In honour of Volunteers’ Week and Thank you Day, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is saying a huge thank you to their team of volunteers for the support they have provided to staff and patients over the past year.
Around 300 hardworking volunteers give their time and skills to support the Trust in a number of ways including, serving in the shops, providing clothes for the Trust’s Dignity Room, vaccination centre support and directing patients and visitors around the hospital as part of the Guides and Information Service.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of volunteers were stood down but a significant number continued to volunteer in low risk areas. The Volunteers Team are currently in the process of looking at ways to bring back more volunteers into the Trust.
Brenda Atkins from Cowling, volunteers in the Friends of Airedale shop in the Outpatients Department.
Brenda has been a volunteer at Airedale for the past five years and it is part of a family legacy:
“I wanted to volunteer at Airedale because my mum had volunteered here for 15 years and I wanted to follow in her footsteps.
“I love serving drinks and food in the shop because I get to meet people.”
Jenny Crompton from Wilsden, offers support and guidance to visitors, patients and staff as a Guide.
Jenny said:
“It’s an early start. I get into the hospital at 7:20am to prepare for the day and greet incoming patients.
“I keep up the supply of bus timetables and direct people to where they need to go.
“I chose to be a volunteer because I wanted to do something useful with my spare time and l like to help people.”
Volunteers’ Week takes place between 1 and 7 June every year is and is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution that volunteers make in our communities and say a big thank you.
Gurmit Jauhul, Volunteering Services Manager said:
“Our volunteers are a wonderful and integral part of the hospital.
“They support us in so many ways to enhance the visitor, staff and patient experience. From welcoming visitors in the outpatient areas to supporting them on the wards with refreshments and a friendly chat.
“It is truly humbling to know so many people who give up so much of their time to help others and I want to say a massive thank you for the work they all do.”
Foluke Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust gives thanks to the volunteers:
“I am very thankful for the hard-working team of volunteers we have here at Airedale and the time and service they dedicate to the Trust.
“The volunteers have been a pillar of support to patients, visitors and staff alike and play a key part in helping to build the community in and around Airedale.”
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust would also like to give an enormous thank you
Volunteer fundraising is also an important aspect of Volunteers’ Week. Airedale Hospital and Community Charity has already had over 30 people and groups fundraising for them to support Airedale hospital and its community services, and there are many more people with events planned to take place for the charity through the summer and autumn
Airedale Hospital and Community Charity would also like to thank community members who have volunteered to fundraise for the charity.
The Charity have already had over 30 people and groups fundraising for them to support Airedale Hospital and its community services since the start of 2022 and there are many more people with events planned to take place throughout the summer and autumn.
Jodie Hearnshaw, Manager at Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, said:
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to our fabulous fundraisers; we’re really grateful for all of the support we get from our community. Community fundraising has hugely picked up this year with lots of events taking place again. It’s so exciting when people get in touch with us to tell us they’re planning to fundraise for Airedale!
“Some recent examples of fundraising people have done for our charity include: a 12-year-old boy, William, walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks; Airedale staff, Freya and Andy, took part in the Leeds Half Marathon; members of Oakworth Scouts volunteered to help our charity fundraise at a Keighley Cougars match; and Skipton Cycling Club raised funds by selling cycling kit to their members.
“We have nine fabulous fundraisers that will be running the Great North Run for us later this year, and some really exciting fundraising events taking part over the summer too.”
If you would like to fundraise or volunteer some time to help Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, please contact 01535 294870 or anhsft.charity@nhs.net.
Meet some of our amazing volunteers
Jenny and Bridget
Jenny and Bridget are volunteer Guides here at Airedale Hospital.
They help to greet and direct patients, staff and visitors around the hospital, answer queries on parking, make bus timetables available and phone for taxis.
Brenda
Brenda has been a volunteer in the Outpatients shop and Café for five years.
She followed in the footsteps of her mother who previously volunteered at Airedale Hospital for 15 years.
Carole
Carole and her husband Bob have been volunteering with the Dignity Room Team for seven years, helping to provide clothes for patients who find themselves in hospital with just their night wear.
The team ensures they have access to day clothes (ranging from underclothes to jogging bottoms), remarkably helping more than 850 patients a year with 1,500 different garments.
Janet, Marjorie and Teresa
Janet, Marjorie and Teresa have amassed 12 years together volunteering at Airedale.
They all work in the Outpatients shop/café where they enjoy getting to meet patients, visitors and staff as they come into the hospital.
