A special event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week has been held at Stormont to recognise the incredible contributions that Volunteers across the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust make every day.
The event was attended by a range of dedicated Volunteers who have supported the Trust and enhanced the quality of Health and Social Care services for the local community. The Trust has a long and distinguished history of involving Volunteers, with some having served for over 40 years who continue to offer their invaluable support.
Since Volunteer Services was formed within the Trust 23 years ago, the Volunteer workforce has grown significantly, with approximately 400 Volunteers carrying out a range of roles across hospital and community facilities throughout the South Eastern Trust area.
Some of the volunteering roles include:
- Meeters & Greeters: Welcoming visitors and patients to our hospitals;
- Ward Volunteers: Providing companionship to patients during mealtimes;
- Volunteer Drivers: Delivering cardiac and sleep monitors to patients for essential medical tests;
- Befrienders: Supporting socially isolated patients suffering from loneliness in their homes;
- Activity Volunteers: Encouraging client participation in group activities at Training & Resource Centres.
These roles are just a snapshot of the volunteering opportunities available within the Trust. Volunteering opportunities are also offered as recovery pathways for patients in mental health and addiction services, providing help in their recovery journey.
The Trust is particularly proud of its initiatives for young volunteers. These opportunities allow young people to gain valuable experience in healthcare settings, promoting their development and encouraging careers in Health and Social Care. Many young volunteers pursue further education in Medicine, Nursing, or Allied Health Professions, with some returning to work within the Trust.
Volunteers are an integral part of the Trust and their dedication and time are immensely valued. Their involvement not only improves patient experiences, but also plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of services provided by the Trust.
Angela Martin who has been volunteering with the Trust for 45 years said, “I am very honoured to attend the event at Stormont. I have enjoyed my many years of volunteering and I am part of the Ladies Committee in Ards Hospital where we raise funds to buy equipment for the wards for the benefit of patients.
“Volunteering provides an opportunity to meet people and to make friendships. I feel it is so important to give something back to the community.”
Paul Whitten who has several volunteering roles in the Trust commented, “This event is in recognition of the time volunteers have given helping others, it is so lovely to be appreciated and recognised for the work that we do.
“I have been volunteering since COVID and carry out several roles such as meeting and greeting in Lisburn Primary & Community Care Centre, delivering laundry and picking up and delivering cardiac monitors to patients. I really enjoy volunteering, everyone brings something different to the role, I would definitely recommend it!”
Nuala Taggart explained why she decided to volunteer and stated, “Volunteer is so rewarding, I came across the Cardiac Delivery Driver role and felt I could do something to help others. It gives me the opportunity to engage with patients, many of whom live on their own, so they are very thankful for the company. It is so lovely attending the event, I can’t believe I am being recognised for doing a job that I love.”
Also attending, Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, added, “Today’s event recognises the massive contribution that you the volunteers make, supporting staff within our hospitals and improving the care of patients and those living in the local community. I want to thank you for your dedication and support, it makes a real difference to the health service and it is very much appreciated.”
Thanking Volunteers for their dedication and commitment, South Eastern Trust Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter stated, “I am extremely committed to supporting Volunteer Services and I am really appreciate the incredible work that they do. They are a vital part of our Health and Social Care teams.
“Volunteering does not just impact on our patients and service users, it helps to relieve the pressure on staff. Our staff say it is comforting to know a Volunteer is on hand to sit and talk to a patient who is lonely or when they are busy dealing with another patient’s clinical needs. This year is the 40th year of Volunteers Week and extraordinarily we have some Volunteers who started volunteering with us over 40 years ago! dedication and commitment of our Volunteers is just incredible.”
Volunteer Services Manager, Sonya Duffy commented, “All of our Volunteers mean so much to us. They are part of the South Eastern Trust family. We hope they feel valued and understand just how important their role is. There are really vital as they help to improve our patients’ experience during their health care journey. We really appreciate their involvement within the Trust and we look forward to recruiting more Volunteers in the future.”
For more information about volunteering opportunities with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, please contact volunteer@setrust.hscni.net or visit www.setrust.hscni.net/getinvolved/volunteering