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 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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Wednesday Aug 20, 2008

Changes...

We had our twice-yearly general meeting on Monday and some welcome changes were made!  There is generally a split in opinion at NHR which is to do with how much work we are expected to put in.  One opinion is that we're volunteers and that we should be able to put in as much or as little effort as we like.  Others of us know that if everyone had this attitude, nothing would get done! 

Personally, I feel that there should be a minimum requirement and that everyone should be expected to do regular ward visits.  Some people go every week but others haven't been for months!   I think we've managed to reach a compromise now.... it is now a minimum requirement for everyone at the station to do one ward visit per month which I think is pretty fair, and 12 visits a year isn't really that many! I've been asked to draw up the schedule so fingers crossed that this new idea will actually get people on the wards!

Posted by Dawn ( 3:00 PM )
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Friday Aug 15, 2008

Wogan said yes!

Just received this email from Terry Wogan's "people"!!:

Hello Dawn,

We received your email regarding your "I wish I was a hospital radio DJ" T-Shirt.

I'm sure we could sort out a photo of Sir Terry wearing this for you - if you'd like to send it to the address below (with a note reminding me of what it's for and what you need) I will try to sort it out for you.

Many thanks,

Joe

 

Posted by Dawn ( 1:45 PM )
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Wednesday Aug 13, 2008

Pestering Celebrities

We (me and my boyfriend) are currently in the process of designing and building a new website for the station.  I think hospital radio can sometimes be seen as a bit dull so we're trying to fill the website with fun stuff to convince people it's not! 

So...I've just emailed loads of famous radio DJ's to ask if they will wear one of our t-shirts (which says "I wish I was a hospital radio DJ" on it) for a picture for the website.  Fingers crossed that at least one of them will get back to me.

Posted by Dawn ( 3:30 PM )
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