Volunteers at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust have been recognised for their dedication with the presentation of long service awards.
A total of 32 volunteers were rewarded for an incredible 185 years of combined voluntary service between them. The awards were presented to those volunteers who have dedicated five, 10 or 15 years to the Trust.
The longest volunteer has been serving at the Trust for 33 years and counting. The Trust now has a total of 222 volunteers and are ready to take on more.
Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive, said: “We chose to present our long service awards during National Volunteer’s week as it is such an important occasion to celebrate the amazing work our volunteers do. They make such a difference to both our patients and staff, and as such, we want to take this opportunity to thank and recognise them.
“During National Volunteer’s week we held promotional stands in our hospitals, to highlight the amazing work our volunteers do, as well as holding award ceremonies to commend our long serving volunteers.”
The long service awards were organised as part of this year’s national Volunteers’ Week (Tuesday 1 June to Monday 7 June), to acknowledge the contribution of hospital volunteers who give up their free time to assist patients and staff. Over the last year the Trust’s volunteers have done over 18,500 hours of voluntary service and the Trust have recruited 122 more volunteers.
Since last year’s National Volunteer week the Trust has also introduced a new volunteering scheme, called the Busy Bees. Unlike the Trust’s established team of volunteers who are often based in specific areas, the Busy Bees react to real-time situations; they can move around the hospitals to different wards and departments, where they are needed most at any particular moment in time.
Christine Haddock, pharmacy volunteer at Lincoln County Hospital, said: “I have been volunteering for the hospital for five years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. It really is such a rewarding thing to do, being able to give something back to the local hospital.”
Nigel Brasier, volunteer in the Pilgrim Hospital Boston Voluntary Services Department, said: “I have made many friends over the five years I have been volunteering and I feel like a really valued member of the team. I would definitely recommend volunteering for ULHT, you won’t regret it.”
Andrew LeMerle, corridor volunteer at Grantham and District Hospital, said: “Volunteering at the hospital over the past five years has been so rewarding, being able to provide a helping hand to those who need it. To then receive this certificate was just the cherry on the cake.”
Volunteering is something that is highly valued at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. You can find out more about volunteering at ULHT on the Trust’s website.