Volunteers Week 2022
The Jubilee weekend also falls within Volunteers’ Week, a time to celebrate the contribution of volunteers and say thank you.
With many thousands of volunteers giving their time, skills and expertise to support the NHS, Volunteers’ Week is an important opportunity for us to publicly recognise their contribution, and to promote volunteering opportunities.
GMMH will be doing that from the 1 June by sending all our volunteers a specially created Thank You card and celebrating our amazing volunteers on social media. #VolunteersWeek
Here are some stories and reasons why volunteering is so important from our volunteers across the Trust:
I have volunteered at the Moorside Unit for 12 years as an Activities Assistant in the Activity Room. I have looked to help in all aspects of their recovery taking so much from this, eventually leading to their discharge.
Alistair Hough
Activity Assistant
Moorside Unit, Trafford
Being able to give back to the community and helping others on their road to recovery helps me with my recovery and keeping me strong
Len Hatfield
Veteran Peer Mentor
Achieve BBST
Volunteering to me is a way of giving the skills and help I have to offer not just directly to those in need, but to the people, carers and professionals who care for them. Being able to offer support to the people who work day in and day out with those in need is a real honour and has given me a sense of purpose and value that I have felt in other roles.
Vick Nicholas
Material Preparation
Therapy Hub
I came through the service myself in 2014. I have remained sober since 2015, and I now support others going through their own recovery journey. It means so much to me to be able to give something back.
Annie Hannah
Group Co-Facilitator
Achieve Salford (The Orchard)
Volunteering is helping others without any expectations or selfish motives, it gives me a sense of purpose and connects me with the rest of humanity, it helps others less fortunate than myself and in turn helps me develop empathy and understanding.
Michael Doherty
Peer Mentor
Chapman Barker Unit
For me volunteering means empowering the community while enhancing self-confidence.
Shannah Nyekete
Material Preparation
Therapy Hub
Volunteering in the Needle Exchange is really important to me. It's important that people have access to clean equipment and have the opportunity to talk to someone in a safe space without fear of judgement. It makes me feel good to know we are reducing harm in the world.
Stephanie Stajniak
Needle Exchange
Achieve Bury
I am currently doing a BSL Level 3 signature evening course at Bolton College. Volunteering at the JDU really helps me to practice my signing skills. The patients are great at helping me to learn.
I really enjoy spending time with them, everyone is very friendly. The staff at the JDU are amazing and make me feel very welcome. The ward has a lovely feel to it and the staff work very hard to ensure it’s a safe and friendly environment for everyone.
I love going out into the community with the walking group. Getting out definitely has a positive impact on the patients wellbeing.Maxine Phillips
Volunteer Activity Assistant
JDU
Volunteering means a lot to me because it allows me to help others who have addiction issues. I feel this has been very rewarding and I enjoy it very much. The team are helpful, and it has been a pleasure to work with them
Janelle Mottley
PSI group Co-facilitator
Achieve Salford
I volunteer for the Trust both at the Recovery Academy as a tutor running creativity and wellness courses and for the Therapy Hub working on creative ideas. Volunteering means a huge amount to me, as a loss of my job as a nurse due to mental health issues meant I had a whole life to fill and rebuild. Through volunteering I have got a part of my life back. It has helped raise a non-existent self-esteem and through this I have become involved in the Trust in other ways including becoming a Service User and Carer Governor. My life is very different then what I imagined but at least volunteering makes me feel useful again.
Avril Clarke
Volunteer Tutor
Recovery Academy and Therapy Hub
Our service users tell us that they would welcome support from someone who has experience of what they are going through in order to help them in their recovery journey. We have feedback from service users and Volunteer Peer Mentors in our services that tells us that creating this connection between peers offers people hope, aspiration and motivation.
That is why many of our volunteer opportunities are for Peer Mentors and Buddies, but we also have many other opportunities as well. In our in-patient areas for example our service users tell us that although the quality of care is high, they do experience boredom which can exacerbate their condition. Therefore we also have opportunities for Volunteer Activity Assistants in our in-patient areas.
We also recognise that volunteering is a valuable means to support career development for those needing to gain experience in order to pursue their career. As such, we welcome applications for students and the general public.
To find out more, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/volunteering
