National Volunteers Week is an opportunity for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust to say a big thank you for every member of their voluntary services who play such a vital role in their ongoing services.

Over 200 dedicated volunteers work at Stepping Hill Hospital, taking part in a wide array of activities. They support patients, families, visitors and staff in various ways, including greeting and guiding patients and visitors when they first visit the hospital, helping out on wards at mealtimes, and serving in the hospital’s shops. 

Some of the trust’s volunteers have been explaining why they got involved and what they enjoy about it.

Ruth Plant began volunteering at the hospital two years ago – she works on the front desk and also helps gardening outside wards too. She says it can be challenging sometimes, but also amusing, and there is the satisfaction of feeling you are helping people who can be feeling vulnerable or stressed. Ruth says starting volunteering is one of the best decisions she’s ever made, no two days are ever the same and she really enjoys meeting and helping people.

Trevor Jones has been with the hospital’s voluntary service for ten years. Following a career in mechanical engineering of 50 years, he developed a back problem, and his life was greatly improved following a spinal operation at Stepping Hill Hospital. He began volunteering to show thanks for this, and to get a new challenge on his retirement. Working as a guide he says every week is different, and that helping people is so rewarding.

Sue Outterside also started volunteering as a way of giving something back to hospital staff, for the care which they gave her husband. As her working life had been spent answering questions, she also volunteered as a guide to help patients and visitors with their enquiries, and to help them find their way. She says the work is interesting, challenging, and satisfying.

The trust’s voluntary service is keen for anyone interested to get involved and to get in touch. Anyone over the age of 17 can apply to help at the hospital. You will need to commit to three hours per week for a minimum of 16 sessions.

June Heywood, Voluntary Services Administrator said “Our volunteers do a fantastic job all year round providing much-needed support for our staff, patients and visitors, and this is a great opportunity to say a big thank-you to all of them. If anyone wants to join in as a volunteer themselves and they think they can put in the commitment, then we’d love to hear from them.” 

To find out more about being a volunteer, in the being a volunteer, then visit the ‘volunteer’ section of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust website, e-mail voluntaryservices@stockport.nhs.uk  or call 0161 419 5400.