Health and social care is one of the largest volunteering sectors in the UK. This includes organisations like the NHS and charities which improve the wellbeing of people of all ages. So what do helpers actually get involved with? The opportunities are more diverse than we imagined as our bloggers reveal.

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Saturday Mar 14, 2009

Second Time Lucky?

Hello everyone!

As you can see from my previous blog, my life in the world of volunteering hasn't gone smoothly!

I didn't hear anything about my visits to Eva for some time, so I emailed my coordinator.  It turns out she was just getting on with things, including receiving visits from another service!  I think Eva was very well supported and probably only accepted the offer of a visitor from Age Concern out of politeness.  So I had to make the decision not to continue the visits because I felt like there was someone else out there who probably needed the service more.

Since then I have had my introduction and one visit on my own with Lily*  Lily is amazing! - I feel blessed to know her.  Despite having a myriad of physical problems such as arthritis and osteoporisis, she is incredibily positive, thoughtful and kind.  We spent ages laughing about things like the time she'd left her purse in the fridge, or when she went to write down my name after the first visit so she woudn't forget - and she'd already forgotten it!

Lily doesn't have children and her extended family don't visit much, which is a shame because she loves children.  She also can't look after a pet which is sad because she loves dogs, and has to make do with a soft toy instead (brought a tear to my eye!).  I'm hatching a plan to ask my friend to bring her dog over to visit because he is already trained to visit the elderly.  She would like that.

I've learnt from this experience that just because you are volunteering and doing something amazing, it doesn't mean that the people you are working with will be organised and things will go as you expect.  I've also heard that despite asking for volunteers, people sometimes don't know exactly what to do with them.  Don't let this put you off.  If you have a paid coordinator this will help because they will be trained. 

I'm so glad I did this, I can't quite describe the feeling - but it's wonderful!

What are you waiting for?

Jasmine x

 

Names changed to protect identities.

Posted by Jasmine ( 5:36 PM )
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Wednesday Mar 04, 2009

London Life

Hi there - it's been a while, I know! But as some of you might know, my volunteering project isn't a regular slot on a Monday night. The Community Kitchens Project visits all sorts of events and organisations for one offs and repeat projects. Which is great for me as I love a bit of variety!!

But I have to say, it's been a couple of months now since I've done any volunteering and I've noticed that the little that I've done has actually made a great impression on me. Now, it's important when you read this that you realise that I'm a) a village girl from South Wales and b) a cyclist in London. I've lived in my little corner of Islington for around two years now so I know my neighbours and the local shopkeeper - but that's about it! I get on the bus and everyone avoids eye contact. I get on the tube and everyone avoids eye contact. I get on my bike and, well, those that do make eye contact rarely do so with a smile!

When I'm volunteering though I really feel a connection to a 'community', that Islington is more than simply bricks and mortar.

So, I'm very excited to be starting a Cook and Taste course at the Stuart Low Trust, an organisation that works to promote the health of those suffering from mential, emotional or psychological illness or disease. We'll be attending as part of the Wellbeing Project, which is a space set up to get people involved in social and leisure activities - there's even a drumming workshop which sounds great!

Anyhow, I'll tell you all about it in a couple of days!!

Sara 

Posted by Sara ( 10:36 AM )
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Tuesday Jan 20, 2009

The Story so Far

Good Evening!

First of all, thanks for the interest in my first blog.  Second of all, apologies it's taken this long to enter the second one!  Things haven't gone quite as expected...

I had my introduction with Eva before Christmas.  Barbara from Age Concern sat back and let me chat with Eva - although Eva did most of the talking :).  She was amazing - totally with it and I really liked her, even after such a short period of time.  We're both Capricorns, and, if you're interested in that kind of thing - I could see a lot of similarities between us. 

We arranged a fixed day and time when I would visit, and I left really looking forward to starting the regular visits.

And then... things didn't go as planned.

Eva caught a virus which would have delayed things by a couple of weeks; of course older people take that much longer to recover.  I called her every week, and we would have a brief chat and I arranged to ring her again.  The 3rd time I called, she told me something happened to her support network, and she would need to go into respite care over Christmas.  I contacted Barbara and she said that she'd pass on my number to the family and ask them to call me in the New Year.

I guess I've learnt that you can't predict or expect things to go smoothly because the elderly need more care and support, so there might be difficulties along the way.  It is a shame because I was so ready to start and I feel rather stalled now.  I haven't heard from the family yet, which is actually rather worrying.  I expect she's just having an extended stay, but I will contact Age Concern in a couple of weeks if I don't hear anything. 

Now, in the meantime, I could write about other things - but they wouldn't be anything to do with volunteering or Health and Social Care - and that's why you're reading this!  So, I'll say goodbye for now, and will update as soon as I can.

Jasmine x

Posted by Jasmine ( 9:30 PM )
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Saturday Dec 13, 2008

A Christmas Miracle

I love working for a charity, but one of the main reasons I joined hospital radio initially was for the work experience - specifically to get the chance of doing my own show with the hope of getting into professional radio.  But for the year I've been at NHR I've discovered that I actually prefer the other side of what I do there - the fundraising, so I've recently been applying for jobs in this area.  I had an interview at Diabetes UK last week for a fundraising job, and got it! I wouldn't even have had a chance at getting an interview without the skills I've gained at NHR.  I graduated from uni over three years ago and thanks to my voluntary work it finally feels like I've discovered the right career path for me!

Posted by Dawn ( 8:54 PM )
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Thursday Dec 04, 2008

Lesson No. 1

Right, I think I might have to eat my words!

For the past couple of weeks I've been helping out at a Cook and Taste session that the Community Kitchens Project is running at a youth club in Islington. If you read my first entry, you'll know that I was quite scared of volunteering with 'young people'. So what did I go and do? Volunteer for a project where you hand them some sharp knives. I know, it was such a good choice!

But, they're fab! And I'm really enjoying it. To date we've made spag bol and pizza - well, I say we but it's the kids that did all the chopping, weighing and mixing. They still insist on adding salt to everything and anything...but give me time

So on a reflective note, it's not just them doing the learning (well, I hope they are), I am too. I've done something that I wouldn't have normally, and I've learnt I can do it and that I even quite like it. It's really nice to help out at a youth club, especially as I have such good memories of the one I went to.

Oh, and I've learnt what THE insult of the moment is - fat head! And could someone please explain to me how fresh is used as an insult?? I thought it was a good thing...

Sara

Posted by Sara ( 10:31 PM )
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Sunday Nov 23, 2008

Have a Healthy Christmas...

...doesn't really have the same ring to it as Merry Christmas does it?! But it's what the Manor Gardens volunteers have been asked to think about.

The Community Kitchens Project often take a stall to local festivals and fairs to promote healthy diets and will be attendning a Winter Fair in mid-December. Now, if this was set in June I'd have plenty of ideas - but I'm at a loss. Hands up, I eat terribly in the winter!

So far, all I can think of is citrus fruits (which are currently in season and very tasty!) and moneky nuts. This is a call for help!

Posted by Sara ( 9:00 AM )
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Friday Nov 21, 2008

So, I've decided to volunteer

Hello, I’m Jasmine, I’m 29, and live in Hertfordshire with my fiancé.  I work full-time for a Government agency and will be starting an Open University course soon.

I’ve been thinking about volunteering for a long time.  I made a few half hearted efforts to start but didn’t follow them up.  And of course there were other things using up my energy like different jobs and a part-time college course.

So what made me ‘Do-It’ this time?  Well I always said I’d do something when I was more settled in life.  So one evening whilst watching a fantastic program on Channel 4 Called The Secret Millionaire with my fiancé I made the decision. There might be a turning point for you like that when you realise you have to help.  Lets hope it won’t be too much like my turning point and involve crying at the TV, using up all the tissues and worrying your partner!  Maybe I should stop watching these programs!

I volunteered via do-it.org.uk, which was so easy to use, and even though I knew what I wanted to do, I had a good look through all the different categories to see what was there.

I want to help the elderly. I’ve always had a special affinity with older people and enjoy spending time with them, listening to their stories and being amazed by their quiet wisdom. 

I work full-time and I have a home and a fiancé to look after, so I thought I’d start with something small, and then do more later if I could. Age Concern’s befriending scheme looked really right for me, so I signed up.  Barbara* popped round with some forms and we had a nice chat about what my hobbies and interests were and she explained the process and what was expected of me.  The system is set up to ensure you aren’t overly burdened and they recognise you are giving your time and have other commitments.  It was good to be made aware of some of the issues the elderly face so I was prepared.  By the end I was enlightened and certainly more excited about starting.

I’m due to meet with 96 year old Eva* this week and I can’t wait.  Barbara* thinks we’ll get on well, and I really hope so.  It could be a new chapter in my life as well as hers.

Tune in next time to find out how we got on!

Jasmine J

*Name’s have been changed to protect identities.

Posted by Jasmine ( 4:28 PM )
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Monday Nov 17, 2008

'Tis the Season to Sell Sell Sell!

The tickets I ordered for the Christmas raffle arrived last week and the harassment of member's friends and family is now underway! Tickets are 20p each (which I think is an absolute bargain), although I am refusing to sell people less than a  book of five.  Companies have been really generous this year and we've got some brilliant prizes including a day at a local health spa, skincare hampers and vouchers from Go Ape, Wagamama, Marks and Spencer and loads more.  I ordered £800 worth of tickets and hoping we sell them all.  Looking forward to doing the draw on my show on 18th December!

Posted by Dawn ( 3:22 PM )
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Sunday Nov 09, 2008

He is the One and Only!

I met Chesney Hawkes last week!

I made him wear our t-shirt...

...pose for a photo with me...



...but I didn't manage to get the autograph for my friends' husband!  Oh well, two out of three isn't bad!

Posted by Dawn ( 10:58 PM )
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Tuesday Oct 28, 2008

AGM, Members Awards and Chesney Hawkes!!

It was NHR's Annual General meeting on Sunday and there have been a few changes.  A couple of people decided to leave the station which means we are quite low on members at the moment.  We're interviewing five people next week though so if they are all successful we will have more members than we have had for a while.

I decided to join the committee this year and was voted in as Press and Publicity Officer!  I am also standing in as Secretary until someone else takes over...I'm thinking I might be waiting for a while.

The AGM is also a chance for the committee to hand out awards for Best Member, Best New Member, Best Show  and Best Ward Visitor...I won the first two and get my name on the NHR trophy!

And before I go, some very exciting news...you might have read about the "I wish I was a hospital radio DJ" t-shirt which Terry Wogan wore for us?  Well, we've only gone and got Chesney Hawkes to wear it too!! One of the presenters at the station always manages to get "celebrities" to do interviews with him and as Chesney is performing in a show at the local theatre, he's going down there to have a chat with him.  I'm tagging along to convince him to wear the t-shirt, pose for a photo with me and get an autograph for my friends' husband!

 

Posted by Dawn ( 10:38 AM )
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Monday Sep 29, 2008

Finding the perfect partner!

 

As the majority of people know, good relationships are hard to find; there's a lot of false starts, sometimes one person wants it more than the other, and often you find that they're completely wrong for you! Well, in my opinion finding the perfect team to volunteer for isn't that different.

I spent a good year or so looking for the right opportunity. I didn't really want to commit to something that I wasn't 100% into; that when they asked 'can you do every Saturday evening?' I could say with confidence 'yes!' And some opportunities just didn't appeal to me, like mentoring kids – I feel quite bad admitting it but I just could not do that job, hats off to everyone that does! I nearly gave up on the whole volunteering thing altogether, and then two come along at once which I quite fancied!!

So...I am now (pending a CRB check and paperwork...) a volunteer at the Community Kitchens Project in Islington, it's a great little project at the Manor Gardens Centre in Holloway which I found through do-it.org.uk. The project works to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles which leads to a reduction in heart disease, which is always good.

And then I hear that do-it.org.uk are looking for some bloggers! I've always been intrigued by this blogging malarkey so now I'm going to give it a proper go. I'm going to tell you all about the trials and tribulations of volunteering on a community health project, and I really want it to be interactive so please feel free to comment!

Bye for now,
Sara

 

Posted by Sara ( 11:32 AM )
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Wednesday Sep 24, 2008

Terry Wogan wishes he was a hospital radio DJ!

I  recently designed an NHR t-shirt for wannabe DJ's and ex-members.  Terry Wogan's got his!!  Get yours HERE!

Posted by Dawn ( 5:17 PM )
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Wednesday Sep 17, 2008

Go NHR!!

NHR members took part in the annual Robin Hood Half Marathon on Sunday and managed a time of just under three hours which doesn't sound very impressive....except they were pushing a hospital bed around the 13 mile course! 

As previously mentioned I should have been wearing a giant mouse suit.  This didn't happen for various reasons, the main one being that it smelled like the person who wore it before me had just done a marathon themselves!  Instead, the non-runners raided the linen department at the hopsital and got ourselves some "patient" outfits.  

 

Collecting money behind the runners...way behind the runners.

The finish line is in sight!  Go NHR! 

Working for NHR sometimes doesn't feel like much of a team effort but this weekend was an exception.  We definitely need to organise more events like this!

Posted by Dawn ( 6:46 PM )
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Monday Sep 08, 2008

Six days to go...

...till the Robin Hood Half Marathon!

One of our biggest fundraising events of the year is taking place this Sunday.  NHR take part in the marathon every year and it's one of the few events that all members get involved in.  Fortunately I am not running!  Instead I will be wearing a giant mouse suit (which has been provided by Everyclick) and carrying a bucket around to collect as much money as possible!

 

Posted by Dawn ( 7:00 PM )
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Thursday Aug 21, 2008

T-shirts now on sale!

T-shirts of the same design that Sir Terry will be wearing are now on sale in our online shop!  Have a look a them HERE and maybe buy one?

Posted by Dawn ( 11:50 AM )
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