Volunteers' Week - a chance to celebrate
05/06/2017
This article is more than six years old.
Volunteers' Week, 1-7 June, is a national celebration when hundreds of events are held across the UK for organisations and charities to thank their volunteers, and to highlight the contribution that they make.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has around 1,000 volunteers working across our four hospital sites in many different departments and specialties, supporting the work of our staff and improving the experience of our patients and visitors.
To celebrate them, our Voluntary Services team is hosting Summer Strawberry Cream Tea Parties both in Oxford and at the Horton General Hospital during the week.
Whether raising funds, serving coffees, running a book stall, welcoming visitors or spending time with patients, all our volunteers play a crucial role in the life of our Trust.
The volunteer book stall at the John Radcliffe Hospital runs every Thursday from around 8.30am in the morning, with the help of a team of volunteers and generous donations of books, puzzles, CDs and DVDs from members of OUH staff and the public. All profits go to the hospital charity, and pay for items such as specialised furniture and equipment on our wards.
Douglas Howell started volunteering for the Trust about eight years ago. As well as staffing the Help Desk on Level 2 of the John Radcliffe Hospital he has been a volunteer guide, gardener and distributor of Trust magazines such as OUH&You and the hospital charity's Torch.
"To assist people at the desk is a pleasure." says Douglas; "I am a very sociable person... I have met and worked alongside some very nice people and I hope that I will be fit and well enough to carry on doing so for many years to come."
We are extremely grateful for all that our volunteers do, and their input is very much valued and appreciated by our patients, visitors and staff. Last year the work of some of our volunteers was recognised in our Staff Recognition Awards, with volunteers scooping the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in the Supporter of the Year Category - an amazing accomplishment!
If you are interested in volunteering with us, and want to find out more, please contact us.
What would we do without you? #VolunteersWeek