A thank you to the teams behind our charities in Volunteers’ Week

Volunteers’ Week is an annual event that this year has taken place on June 1 to 7. The event aims to pay tribute to all the hardworking volunteers who help to provide vital services in our communities.

St Catherine’s telephone buddy scheme in Crawley has been a lifeline.

Earl, a patient under the care of St Catherine’s Hospice, has been speaking to volunteer, Graham, once a week as part the new scheme, set up to make sure patients, who’ve temporarily had to stop attending the hospice’s Living Well Centre, remain connected.

Earl said: “When one of the nurses told me about the scheme I asked if I could speak with Graham because I already knew him. Everything is driven by my needs as the patient.”

Graham said: “I’ve been volunteering at the hospice for seven-and-a-half years and was really pleased to be asked to help whilst I’m not able to be at the hospice volunteering.

“It means a lot that I can still do something to support patients and St Catherine’s and not just sit around for months. Citizens Advice in West Sussex has continued giving advice to those in need throughout the coronavirus pandemic thanks to the tireless dedication of its staff and volunteers. The charity covers a large area of the county including Horsham, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Adur and Worthing, and new volunteers are being sought to join the team in a variety of roles. At the start of lockdown, the team quickly rallied to ensure as many people as possible could be helped over the phone or webchat. Almost 100 volunteers are currently working from home alongside 49 staff; volunteers are contributing nearly 730 hours each week on average.

Emma Cross, chief executive officer at Citizens Advice in West Sussex, said: “Throughout the year our wonderful volunteers contribute their time and energy to make a huge difference to people’s lives and help keep our vital service running.

“Whether they have been able to continue in their role recently, or have paused their volunteering, their support throughout the year has been truly invaluable. I cannot thank them enough for their continued dedication. We really couldn’t do it without them. We’re encouraging new volunteers to apply and join us at a time when our service is so needed by the community.”

Find out more and apply at www.advicewestsussex.org.uk.

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has praised the efforts of its volunteers for their support and care they provide to patients and staff across its region. Volunteer roles include Community First Responders (CFRs), Trust chaplains, Governors and members of SECAmb’s public and patient involvement group, the Inclusion Hub Advisory Group (IHAG). SECAmb also has a public membership of more than 10,000 people who receive regular communications from the trust and are able to help inform its thinking. Across the trust’s region there are 83 CFR groups made up of more than 400 individual CFRs. A total of 24 chaplains are available to staff to turn to for welfare support while the IHAG is made up of 21 members. There are 21 members of the Council of Governors who represent the public interest and work with the trust’s board of directors. SECAmb also benefits from the support of many internal staff volunteer roles including TRiM practitioners, wellbeing advocates and staff network members.

Throughout the week the role of all volunteers will be celebrated including via the trust’s social media channels.

Recent weeks, as part of the trust response to Covid-19, have seen many volunteers quickly adapt their roles and responsibilities. This has included CFRs crewing welfare vehicles to provide refreshments to frontline crews while other have supported operations at the Trust’s HQ or 999 and 111 operations centres.

SECAmb head of community engagement, David Wells, said: “Each and every volunteer, in whatever role they are in, provides an invaluable service. This dedication has been especially clear to see the last few challenging months. They should be very proud of their efforts and I would urge everyone to join us in thanking anyone who volunteers this Volunteers’ Week.”

SECAmb chief executive Philip Astle said: “I would like to thank every single person who gives the trust their time for the benefit of both staff and patients. I know there are countless examples of dedicated volunteers across our region who are helping both their communities and our staff. I would also like to thank our volunteers for the way in which they have risen to the challenge of helping us respond to Covid-19. I can confidently say we would not be the organisation we are without the support and commitment of our volunteers.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about SECAmb’s volunteer roles or who wishes to find out more about getting involved by becoming a Trust member can visit www.secamb.nhs.uk/get_involved.aspx

Voluntary groups have also been full of praise with Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester (VAAC) saying thank you to all its volunteers who give their time to support our local communities.

Jenny Holmes, VAAC senior admin and communications officer, said: “During all the worry, uncertainty and upheaval of the last few weeks, while the Covid-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down, one spark of positivity has been the massive community response and in particular, the amount of people that have volunteered to help out.

“From doing shopping and picking up medication for their elderly neighbours, to helping to deliver food parcels, phoning those who are isolated and alone, and even helping in hospitals and pharmacies, people have volunteered in their thousands to help others get through this difficult time.”

Councils have also been asking residents to help shine a light on volunteers across the district. Chichester District Council has asked its residents to get in touch through its social media channels, to let it know about a volunteer, or a group of volunteers, who are making a real difference in their community. 
Its leader Eileen Lintill said: “There are so many wonderful volunteers in our district who have gone above and beyond to help others in these challenging times, and we want to shine a spotlight on them to give them the thanks they deserve.”