Published on: 11th June 2019
Lots was going on in our trust to celebrate our 151 volunteers this Volunteers’ Week. From thank you lunches to our board members volunteering across our services, please read on to find out about the highlights from the week.
Our Volunteers’ Week celebrations began with a lunch, where our chair, Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE thanked volunteers for the fantastic support they provide across our organisation.
Evelyn said, “Our Trust belongs to the whole community and it’s great to see so many local residents give up so much of their time for free, to help others”. Evelyn also handed out a number of service awards to some of our volunteers at the lunch, and spent time later in the week with patient engagement volunteers at Healthy Young Minds.
Other board members were also working alongside volunteers over the week, and saying their own thank yous.
Our chief executive, Claire Molloy, joined volunteers on our Taylor ward at Tameside Hospital, where she spent time in activity sessions and talking with patients.
Judith Crosby, our executive director of service development and delivery, spent time with Denis, a regular volunteer at Stockport Pathfinders drug and alcohol services. Denis explained to Judith how volunteering helps him on his journey to recovery.
Keith Walker, our executive director of operations, spent time working with volunteer Daniel who has been helping out in our HR department.
Nicky Littler, our executive director of workforce, spent an afternoon with volunteers Margaret and Rosemary at the McMillan Wellbeing Centre book club in Trafford. Suzanne, director of finance spent time on Beech ward in Rochdale with volunteer Carole.
Clare Parker, our executive director of nursing, healthcare professionals and quality governance, had a great morning with volunteers on Saxon ward in Tameside, which included a game of Ludo with patients.
Our non-executive directors were also out and about. John Scampion, joined volunteers Jane and Stephen on one of Rochdale’s memory service dementia Walk n Talk sessions at Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough.
Joan Beresford volunteered on Norbury ward, Stockport, Cath Laverty spent time on Aspen Ward, Oldham, and Daniel Benjamin is volunteering working with the relaxation group at the McMillan Wellbeing Centre in Trafford later this month.
Our volunteer co-ordinator, Alison Byrne, was also out and about with other volunteers promoting the volunteering and recruiting more fantastic people.
And we couldn’t end our roundup of Volunteers’ Week without mentioning Mutley, a therapy dog who also volunteers, bringing a ray of sunshine to every ward that he visits. Have a belly rub on us Mutley!
To all our wonderful volunteers - and volunteers across the nation everywhere - a huge thank you for all your support.