Volunteer Stories

World mental health day 2024

As we head for this year’s World Mental Health Day on the 10th October, hear from Melissa as she talks about her volunteering and the impact this has had for her mental health.

Volunteering has had a profound impact on my mental health.  It has helped build my confidence, build relationships and gain experience. The enjoyment of working alongside people with similar interests and working on projects I value has been life affirming. It confirmed for me that people are inherently good and when we work together productively, we can create positive and meaningful change. Volunteering has helped me understand the world. Having suffered with mental health problems, it helped me to trust myself, build friendships and to find happiness and joy again. When I volunteer, I commit to the experience so that I can get the most out of opportunities. For the last 6 years I have benefited from supportive environments when volunteering and in my current volunteer role at NHS Lothian I feel part of the team and valued. It helps me to think clearly, contribute my ideas confidently and work with others in a meaningful way on important issues. Volunteering will always be a part of my life, it has changed my life and I hope it can impact yours too.

Volunteering as a person with autism

Grace’s Story

I knew at that point in my life that I would not be able to hold down a job. I was only just recovering from my bad experience of school; I was only just getting my head round what being autistic meant; I was only just learning who I was. It wouldn’t have been sustainable, or good for my wellbeing to be working at that point.

Grace, Clothing Store Volunteer

Like a lot of autistic young people, I really struggled at school. By the end of school, I had been out of mainstream education for almost 3 years. I attended a specialist neurodiversity service two times a week, but this was going to stop on my 18^th birthday. I was anxious about how I would fill my days. I knew I had to find a way to get out of the house, have a sense of purpose in my week, and develop the skills I had missed out on learning at school. What was appealing about volunteering was the flexibility and autonomy it brings. I knew I would be able to go at my own pace and easily get the accommodations I needed for my autism. I applied for the clothing store at the Royal Infirmary. The role included organising and displaying the stock, to help patients in need to access clothes. This would help them mentally and physically as it allowed them to get out of hospital gowns and out of their beds.

If I’m being honest, what attracted me to this role was:

1. The idea of sorting stuff

2. The job description stated that I would have to be okay working my myself for long periods of time.

This sounded like heaven to my autistic brain!

Throughout the application process, I was open about my autism diagnosis. This allowed me to get accommodations like receiving the interview questions beforehand, a step-by-step walkthrough of what the role consisted of; the option to do training online; and extra information to calm my nerves.

There were also a few things I did which helped me at the start of my volunteering: I made myself a social story with clear statements, accompanying photos and a routine to follow during my shift. I was very restrictive about what I would wear – down to my socks! – to take away any anxiety or choice before. I prepared scripts for what I would say to any nurses who visited the clothing store.

I’m not going to pretend it was easy at the start. On the way there, I would be so anxious I would contemplate not going. There were instances where I had to hide in the toilet because I would get so overwhelmed. I spent a lot of time thinking I’d said something wrong or feeling disgusted because I touched a funny piece of fabric. Very often I would fall asleep as soon as I got home because I was so exhausted and drained.

However, the more I did it – it got easier! Soon I no longer needed my social story. I could choose what socks I wore on the day. I could have impromptu conversations with people and not start crying. To me, these were pretty big achievements!

My role in the clothing store developed my confidence, adaptability, and commitment. With being out of school for so long, it was hard at the start to get up and out to every shift – it was certainly a change from my usual routine. Now, being equipped with this experience, I feel much more able to plan my week and stick to it, which helps with all aspects of my life.

Because of my autism, I am a very anxious person and I often have low self-esteem. Since having my role in the clothing store, I am a changed person. I am much more able to make small talk or go somewhere new – things non-autistic people would take for granted, but are so hard for us.

Autism makes my comfort zone very small. But volunteering has shown me that when I do step outside it, I can achieve great things.

Daisy’s Story

Even if volunteering is way outside your comfort zone, just go for it! The benefits you get from it totally outweigh any nerves or apprehension you may feel at the start of your volunteering journey. It’s so rewarding on so many levels and I cannot recommend it enough. It has set me up with so many skills that will be applicable to many areas of life, in both personal and professional settings, and boosted my confidence more than I ever could have imagined.

Daisy, Fancy a Blether Befriender

Daisy started volunteering for NHS Lothian as she began her third year at university. Daisy supports clients as befriending volunteer.

“I initially wanted to do it to gain some experience working in the NHS as I was interested in clinical psychology but had little experience outside of the classroom. The befriender project suited me perfectly as I completed my training over summer then only had to commit a couple of hours a week whilst studying”.

When we asked Daisy about how her volunteering has impacted on the people she’s supported she told us that:

“One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering is being able to see, first-hand, the positive impact you’re having on someone else’s life over time. I was able to help my client with things like booking cinema tickets, using apple maps, and ordering things on her phone. Whilst these things may seem minor it was really rewarding helping her learn these skills and see the positive impact they had on her life. I think this definitely boosted her confidence as well as mine, as it opened doors for her and allowed her to do things she ordinarily wouldn’t have the confidence to do, for example booking a cinema ticket and going to see a film on her own, or taking a bus route and walking somewhere she’d never been before using maps on her phone. This is why volunteering is so great, because it’s equally as beneficial and rewarding to the client as it is to the person volunteering.”

Daisy told us more about the positive impacts that her volunteering has had for her and how her confidence has grown over time!

“My first bus journey to meet my client was the longest bus ride of my life! We’d spoken on the phone once before we met in person which definitely helped calm my nerves, but I was definitely very anxious for our first meeting. I’m not a naturally extroverted person so I was massively out of my comfort zone, but the adrenaline took over and I was absolutely fine after the first 5 minutes. I was still a bit nervous for the next couple of meetings, but it definitely got easier each time, and now almost a year on the nerves are completely gone and I feel totally comfortable with my client.”

“Volunteering has had a huge positive impact on me. I’m quite introverted and can be socially anxious at times, so the befriending project was way out of my comfort zone. Since the beginning of my volunteering I’ve seen a huge difference in my confidence, as a couple of years ago I’d never have imagined I’d be brave enough to do something like this. It’s massively helped my people skills, and given me confidence in myself that I can do things that seem scary or challenging, as I know they’ll become less scary and challenging over time.”

From Fancy a Blether volunteer to Career!

Erin’s story

“I was in my final year of studying Psychology at Glasgow University, with a clear idea that I wanted to work in this field, helping people, but no real idea how to get relevant experience. I spoke to a friend who was in the same field and she mentioned she had started volunteering with NHS Lothian within the Fancy a Blether service. I jumped at the chance to get on board, and the opportunity to get valuable training within the NHS.”

“After interviewing and meeting like-minded individuals during the online interactive training sessions, I was ready to become a Fancy a Blether Volunteer. The role involves being matched with someone in the Midlothian area, and meeting weekly to help get them back out and about in their community. It could be as little as having a coffee and walk, or also trying to look into other activities they would like to get involved with. With the hope that when your partnership comes to an end, they have an activity they can continue going to. A big learning opportunity for me was ensuring that the activity worked for your specific client. This meant being patient and listening to their needs. There is no one-size-fits-all for giving a client the care they need.

Volunteering quickly has become a highlight of my week, and I hope to think it has been for my client too. A real favourite moment for me was seeing them get excited to start going for a walk in the park, something we had worked towards after building a strong relationship over weeks of coffee and making plasticine models. Seeing my client’s confidence improve and giving them that extra bit of social interaction was such an honour. You are with them for the highs and lows, supporting them, all while getting unwavering support from the managers who help run the program. 

I would recommend volunteering for Fancy a Blether, to anyone looking to get into working with the NHS. It offers an unmatched opportunity to provide quality one-to-one support to those who need it most in your local community. For me, it helped instill core NHS values and gain a better understanding of what the organisation strives to do. Moreover, there were further learning opportunities; I have completed an accreditation, and am about to do the next,  which is helping me become a better volunteer and enhancing my employment opportunities. Volunteering for the NHS gave me the confidence to apply for a job within the organisation, and progress in my dream career of a clinical psychologist. In every NHS interview I had, Fancy a Blether provided ways for me to show my caring abilities and competence. I am now officially an NHS employee in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and firmly believe it was a big thanks to the skills gained and opportunities given while volunteering in my Fancy a Blether partnership. “

It really has been one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

From Volunteer to Clerical Officer! Morag’s Story.

Morag signed up as a volunteer at the beginning of the first lockdown of the Pandemic in 2020. She said: “I wanted to do something to help and I saw an advert that the hospital were looking for people for the Donation Centre. So I thought that would be ideal for me. I then moved into an OPD Assistant and Welcome Guide role doing 3 days a week, for 3 hours each day.”

Over her time volunteering with us, Morag got to know the staff and the patients and she shared that: “I would look forward to going in each day as they were a really nice team, they made me feel part of it as well, so that was nice. It was nice when you’re able to help somebody and when they go away, you can actually see them relax a little bit.”

Morag described that “after two and a half years I built up a lot of knowledge, skills and experience and my next stage was maybe thinking about a job in the future, so I considered working for the NHS. I’ve got all these transferable skills from my previous job and the volunteering post which gave me the confidence to apply for a job in NHS Lothian.”

We were so delighted to hear that Morag was successful in applying to the post of Clerical Officer within St John’s Hospital, so although we were sad to see her leave us as a volunteer we were thrilled to be part of her journey to joining the staff team, welcome Morag!

On Morag’s take away experience from volunteering: “Generally, people’s attitude to the volunteers is really lovely and they are very much appreciated. I learned that everyone’s expectations and experiences are different as they walk through the door, I treated them all as individuals. People can be very anxious, nervous and upset and the best thing about being in main reception or the front door of the OPD is that you are that friendly face. Someone who’s there to be calm around you, to give you the simple directions or walk with you to that ward or department. You get to know a lot of people as they regularly come in everyday/week or month for appointments or to visit a loved one. It’s quite nice for them as well to come in and to see a recognisable face. Another thing volunteering has gave me is a circle of new friends. We see each other before, during and after our shifts, we have met up outside the hospital, some of who will be friends forever.”

A day in the life of Oncology Ward Helper Angela

My name is Angela and I volunteer as an Oncology Ward Helper in St John’s Hospital, in Livingston, each Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm. I have been a volunteer for over 12 years now; one session a week, taking a short break during the Covid-19 lockdowns due to the ward being closed to all except the patients. I started volunteering after my own treatment for Breast Cancer 15 years ago here in St. John’s Hospital.  I felt I wanted to give something back for the wonderful treatment that I had received and the fantastic support that was offered by staff.

My general tasks each session include; meet and greet patients, chat to patients and family members, making tea and coffee, serve sandwiches and drinks at lunchtime and tidy kitchen facilities.  When I arrive I help to make patients feel welcomed and at ease by making tea and coffee, spend time chatting and prepping for lunchtime.  At the end of my shift I tidy kitchen and make point of saying goodbye to staff and patients.

My favourite part of my volunteering role is chatting to patients and family members (Pre Covid-19) building relationships and making them feel at ease.  I think I’ve made a real difference by providing support to the Oncology Team.  I find volunteering very rewarding. It gives me the opportunity to help people who are going through treatment.  It’s a chance to offer support during this difficult time, whether it be a cheery face, a chat or a cup of tea and a biscuit.  I am always made to feel welcome by the staff and patients alike.

The patients get a lot of my volunteering role too, being able to speak to the patients and their family members as quite often family members and close friends are also are affected by cancer. While waiting for an appointment one day I got chatting to a couple and the lady had just started to loose her hair.  I chatted about my 10 year survival and that it’s good to have hope and be positive. The lady’s husband said “Did you hear what she said?”  The lady really appreciated what I had shared (without thinking about it) and how I had managed to put her at ease.  I then thought that this was something that I could do, volunteer regularly to give back, to the staff who also helped me.

The staff like and appreciate the volunteers on the Oncology ward it as sometimes they are run off their feet and maybe don’t have enough time to spend with the patients like I have. I have time for a chat, bit of banter and can help ease anxieties.  The best bit for me has been that I come away from the ward elated and that I’ve helped someone. I know where they are; I’ve been there and you can see the difference you make; you feel good in yourself in helping others.

What’s next for me? Well I’m going to stay where I am as a Ward Helper in the Oncology ward and may do more sessions per week once I retire.  I’m continuing to work part time in a school and look after my Grandchildren.  I enjoy Pilates twice per week, gardening, tap dancing and walking my dog.  I will also being raising money for the Oncology Ward via another Moondance.

I would highly recommend volunteering; the oncology ward is not for everyone but if you feel you can cope with it its very rewarding.  I value the staff much more from when I was in the ward; they do a fantastic job!

Wondering why not before at Findlay House

Pat joined the volunteer team at Findlay House as she wanted to help during the Covid-19 outbreak but plans to stay on as a volunteer as the pandemic subsides. Pat says ‘I started volunteering because of the call for help. However, now I am doing it I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner’.

Pat’s role at  Findlay House has been varied. Initially, she  put her green fingers to use  in the courtyard garden planting all the  donations of wildflower seeds, vegetables and plants. The garden is now really colourful and full of lovely scents so it is perfect for patients with dementia .  Pat is regularly topping up the bird feeders and spending time with the patients watching the birds (and the occasional squirrel making great use of them) . ‘An older male patient and I watched from his room, the Great Tits feeding which was just lovely.‘

Now the garden is all ship shape Pat has moved indoors ‘More recently I have been spending time talking and listening with patients, hearing their stories from their life. I help out around meal times as well, serving tea and coffee and helping with meal service too.’    We asked Pat what her favourite thing about volunteering was and she said ‘I love hearing all about the patients and their lives. Like we have a cartoonist, mining engineer who spent years in South Africa, the teacher with tales from years gone by, the daily dancer who was dancing until her hospitalisation and the ex Londoner with fascinating family stories.’

Pat also enjoys seeing the patients enjoying the garden  ‘There is a wee trio of ladies who have become friends, and they sit out in the garden and talk with each other, they have gotten to know each other by talking out there. ‘

A day in the life of a volunteer at Ellen’s Glen

Julie volunteers in a medicine of the elderly unit on a Friday morning and describes a typical day.

Fun and games at the Astley Ainslie Hospital

Nivan  has been volunteering at the Astley Ainslie Hospital for four months,  She volunteers once a week  in the Sutherland Ward.

Nivan  takes  pressure of the staff by helping with drinks service,  tidying and  helping organise and facilitate activities for the patients.  Nivan also spends time one to one with the patients, socialising  with them in the ward or taking them out in the grounds for fresh air.

Nivan said the favourite part of volunteering is ‘meeting all the new people, be it  patients or staff. Hearing everyone’s stories’.  We asked Nivan what difference she thought her volunteering made ‘I like to think that it helps by giving them company and something different to think about. I hope having somebody around to do small things like make a cup of tea or get them a biscuit makes their lives a little bit easier.’

Nivan has been  helping with quizzes and games for the patients including  setting up a game of bingo  ‘a lot of the patients had never played the game before. We had a little sheet with the official names of the numbers to use when announcing – some of the names are quite funny and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. We played for a line and then a full house. It was a great way to spend the evening.’  

A day in the Life of a ward helper at the Western General Hospital

Volunteer John tells us about a typical day volunteering in a ward at the Western General Hospital. “My weekly Tuesday morning shift commenced around 10.00, and was timed with when patients would really appreciate a cup of tea or coffee with a piece of cake or a biscuit. I would report to the Charge Nurse, put my things in the staff changing room and get busy assembling a trolley with everything you need for a tea and coffee round. It was a familiar round, knocking on private room doors, but being conscious of patients sleeping, or in consultation with staff, in which case I would take note and go back later.

There were also several 4-bed wards and sometimes the curtains were drawn in which case you respect the privacy and go back later. Sometimes another patient would simply tell me what to make as some patients get to know each other. Everyone likes the cake or biscuits. Some have their own mugs, some prefer sweeteners, others hot water, and again some would want cold milk, or again, just iced water. Serving people is a privilege and conscious of the knowledge it could be me in a bed, that motivates how I greet patients and they always so appreciate the tea and coffee round! There are always times when you have to go back to the kitchen to replenish the tea pot or the hot water pots. Occasionally there is little sugar, or no cake or sweeteners. You have to manage expectations!

After collecting all the cups and running the dishwasher a few times, there is tidying up in the kitchen and cleaning the sink. After this, it’s time to prepare a trolley, to then gather and replace the orange-coloured bed table bags and the orange clinical waste bags in the private rooms and wards. The clinical waste bags are plastic tied and go in a large clinical bin which is stored in a secure corridor cupboard. All these tasks require specific coloured aprons and gloves for the clinical waste bags. In the private rooms there can be consultations in progress, so again, you may have to go back. The tea round and the orange bag round, can take between 2-3 hours with no breaks, and with that, having reported to the charge nurse, my shift would be completed with a real feeling of satisfaction and appreciation from ward staff.”

A blether at Midlothian Community Hospital 

Chelsea  is volunteering at  Midlothian Community Hospital.  Chelsea is a Ward Helper  so does all sorts of things on her weekly visits to Loanesk Ward, helping with meals and drinks , tidying up plates and dishes, filling out meal cards, restocking supplies, spending time with patients  playing games, chatting and even pampering with a little nail painting.   Chelsea has noticed the positive impact volunteers have had on the mental health of patients. 

‘Many in-patients have been there since May, confined to one ward, and it takes a toll on their emotional and mental health. One of my roles as a volunteer has been to listen to and comfort patients on a weekly basis; a blether, a laugh, a cry, a good story, musical stimulation, pamper days (varnish/nail painting for the ladies). It creates a sense of community during their treatment, keeping them from climbing walls. ‘

Chelsea has volunteered in other places before including the stimulated patient programme so some of our doctors and nurses may recognise her from workshops and exams. Chelsea  said the best thing about volunteering at Midlothian community Hospital is  ‘As I thanked patients for giving me a bit of time with them, I’m always met with such gratitude; that they had a great time and were very glad for the company, and excited to see me on the next shift. I saw the good that even listening was doing for their morale, and it really is the best bit – when you see and feel you’re making a difference. I’ve met some really interesting people and each time I go in I always have a laugh somewhere!’

From sales to Clinical Support Worker to Nurse

Shortly before the UK Covid-19 outbreak triggered the first lockdown, Alexis had just turned 40 was working in sales for a gas company.  Now, just after his 41^st birthday, he has just begun work as a Clinic Support Worker for NHS Lothian at East Lothian Community Hospital and plans to begin studying to become a Nurse shortly.   At start of 2020 Alexis has no plans to change career. However, his positive volunteering experience as a Covid Response Volunteer set Alexis on a completely new path.

Alexis was keen to support the NHS and the wider community as soon as it become clear that Covid was placing strain on the country.  Alexis came forward to volunteer with NHS Lothian as soon as the request for volunteers was made and participated in the Covid Response Volunteer fast-track recruitment and induction process.

Despite working full-time (from home), Alexis committed to a regular volunteering shift at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh and was allocated to Ward 108.  About three  months later when the need for volunteers to  welcome and support visitors coming to the  hospital, ensuring safe social distancing and good hand hygiene was identified, Alexis stepped forward again and took on an additional role as a Mobile Welcome Guide at the main entrance to the hospital.   Over 2020 and into 2021 Alexis contributed over 500 volunteering hours, over his regular day and a half, even volunteering on Christmas Day.

Alexis had experienced a difficult period in his life prior to volunteering and describes a year of low mood and anxiety.  Alexis really wanted to help during the pandemic but also felt that that he would get a lot out of it.  Alexis says that volunteering really contributed to an improvement in his mental health and that the patients and other people he met while volunteering helped him gain a sense of perspective and gave him a huge amount of enjoyment.  ‘The patients give you energy.

There was a point during his year of volunteering that Alexis realised that ‘I was doing my paid work 5 days a week and volunteering two days a week and I realised I was enjoying the two days a whole lot more.’  This set Alexis on a path to thinking about if he wanted keep doing ‘roughly the same thing I have been doing for the last 10-15 years at a desk or did I want to work patients.  Customers and patients are very different things and I wanted to work more with patients.’    Alexis began thinking about career in the NHS working with patients and due to his volunteering role realised there might be more than one route into that.  ‘Everyone makes a ward, not just the Doctors and Nurses. It is the OTs, the PTs, the Domestics, and the Clinical Support Workers. You do what you can to help.

‘Volunteering helped me establish where I want to go. It was a really good light touch way to understand the basics of a ward’  Once he had an idea of where he wanted to go Alexis said the team at 108 spurred him on as his colleagues shared with him their experiences.  He found it useful to speak to the Student Nurses on the ward who helped him understand the different routes to achieving a nursing degree. These discussions alongside those with Clinical Support Workers helped Alexis put together a plan for how he was going to move forward.  Alexis is grateful for the positive feedback he received ‘I was told I have a great attitude with patients’ and also for the support he was given to identify areas for development if this was to be a career for him.

Praise did not just come from the staff team; many patients articulated their gratitude for the support he offered.  Alexis recalls a younger patient who had been on ward 108 for some time. When the patient left the ward, he thanked Alexis for his support. Then a few weeks after discharge this patient came up to Alexis in the street to make a point of thanking him again.

In his Welcome Guide role, Alexis guided a visitor to the ICU where she was visiting a patient who was seriously unwell. Alexis sat with her half an hour, talked and listened.  The visitor thanked him and Alexis noted she was smiling as she left him.  Alexis also described that there are other ways you know you are making a difference out with a direct thank you. ‘The most satisfying thing is when the patients know your name and know it is Saturday because you are there. That is better than any thank you especially as many of the patients have difficulties with memory.

Alexis says of his year of volunteering ‘I don’t have a bad word to say about it’.  He also said he would recommend volunteering to anyone ‘Volunteering is such a good thing. You get such a lot out of something that is not work.  Volunteering has given me so many things I didn’t ask for.’  In addition, he thinks it is a must for anyone thinking about a career or any kind in the NHS ‘Anyone who thinks at some point they might like to work for the NHS I would recommend volunteer.  It gives you a chance to look at what is going on.’

Winter 2023-24 Volunteer Stories Campaign

Getting to know me – November 2023

Getting to know me – December 2023

Getting to know me – January 2024

Getting to know me – February 2024