The South Eastern Trust is celebrating an extraordinary milestone, 70 years of volunteering with the Trust’s Volunteer Service recognised as the longest-running Volunteer workforce across Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.
The landmark anniversary was marked this week with a special afternoon tea at the Ulster Hospital in honour of the Ards Hospital Ladies Committee, who are also celebrating an incredible 70 years of service and fundraising in support of patients and staff. Among those attending the celebration was Angela Martin, one of the Trust’s longest-serving Volunteers, who is marking 46 years of service with the Committee.
Members of the Committee joined Trust Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter, and Trust Chairman, Jonathan Patton, for the celebration, which recognised both the Trust’s seven decades of Volunteering and the Committee’s remarkable contribution to healthcare in the Ards community. For 70 years, Committee members have dedicated their time to supporting patients and raising funds for vital medical equipment for use in hospital wards, outpatient clinics and departments throughout Ards Hospital.
Angela joined the Committee in 1980 and explained that volunteering has always been an important part of her life, “I was brought up in a family where people volunteered. Everybody was involved in something and gave their time to the community. I always felt that if you can give back to the community, you should.
“We have fundraised over the years for patient comforts to furniture for the Nurse’s homes at that time to early detection cancer equipment, wheelchairs, trolleys, pulse oximeters and medical equipment.
“I am very proud to have volunteered these 46 years, I enjoy telling people in the Outpatients in Ards Hospital that some of the equipment you are using we fundraised to buy it.”
When asked if she was going to volunteer for another 46 years, the 82-year-old replied, “I hope so, but I don’t think so!” “I’ve been Chair of the Committee on three different occasions now and also held the role of Secretary. I’m still going strong and you make the most of it.
“Ards Hospital is there for everybody and by volunteering you are helping the whole community.”
Treasurer of the Committee, Concepta Meredith explained how the Committee has spent £60,000 over the past ten years in purchasing medical equipment for the hospital. “We raised it by hosting coffee mornings and myself and another Volunteer, Julia Henderson counted it on my dining room table!” laughed Concepta.
“I am very proud to be a Volunteer, it helps and that is what it is all about. It is very important that the Committee continues, we have purchased ECG machines, blood pressure machines, loads of stuff and that keeps people out of hospital.
“I would encourage young and old, those who are retired, to Volunteer as it is so rewarding.”
Volunteer, Maureen Boyd, who joined in 2020, explained how her mother-in-law, Helen was a founding member of the original committee. “It is fantastic to look over the old photos, there are so many stories behind them in terms of getting together to organise things. Generations of our family have been involved as Volunteers and it means an awful lot to me. There is great camaraderie with the Committee and knowing that what you are doing, is benefitting someone, is big thing.”
South Eastern Trust Chairman, Jonathan Patton shared how it is a “privilege” to meet Trust Volunteers and to share a cup of tea with members from Ards Hospital Ladies Committee . “It is incredible how our hospitals have benefitted from our Volunteers who are working for patients, working for staff and raising funds that have provided equipment and assistance to so many people.
“I am incredibly privileged in the role, as Chairman, to meet our Volunteers, to see their passion, and to work alongside them and hear their stories.
“I think it is vital that we find the next generation of Volunteers. Volunteers have been the life blood of this hospital and Trust for so many years, and I would love to find the next generation of Volunteers coming forward offering some time, an hour, a day that could help us, support us and our staff deliver the care that we do.”
South Eastern Trust, Volunteer Services Manager, Sonya Duffy added, “It is such an amazing feeling to be able to work with people, who are so kind and who are so generous. They do so much for our patients and clients.
“We have 370 volunteers with an age range of 16-25 who are keen to help and learn and then we have our older, more mature Volunteers who come with a wealth of life experience and skills. It is really important to our society that we have people volunteering to help others and for our younger generation to see the generosity and thoughtfulness shown for other people.
“It is amazing to mark seven decades of volunteering in the South Eastern Trust, I am so proud of that and I am so proud of our Volunteers, we want them to stay with us forever as they make such a difference to our patients and clients.”
If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Team at volunteer@setrust.hscni.net or call (028) 9056 4817 to find out more.