NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s volunteering programme has achieved a top award as it prepares to issue a call for new members.
The programme has achieved the Investing in Volunteers Award for its commitment to a clear and effective investment in volunteers including the placement of a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, a significant increase in volunteer involvement by people of all ages and backgrounds, and the development of a range of volunteering roles.
The award comes as NHS Dumfries and Galloway launches a new recruitment campaign this autumn looking for dedicated locals who have the time to take up a range of volunteering roles in community hospitals throughout the region.
This campaign rolls out further the highly successful volunteering programme already well established at the region’s main hospital Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (DGRI) and outpatient facility Mountainhall Treatment Centre, and aims to recruit 100 new volunteers for a range of roles ranging from Care of Older People to Breastfeeding Peer Support.
In addition, the campaign will seek to recruit an additional 50 weekend ward volunteers for DGRI and volunteers dedicated to roles at Midpark Hospital.
Joan Pollard, Associate Director of Allied Health Professions, NHS Dumfries and Galloway said:
“NHS Dumfries and Galloway has recently been awarded a highly respected accolade for its volunteering programme. Although we have had a long history of volunteering our programme has been massively extended with the opening of our new hospital in December 2018, and has gone from strength to strength with over 200 volunteers now supporting patients and their families and staff at DGRI, and at Mountainhall Treatment Centre.
“The Investing in Volunteers Award is testament to the dedication and commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers, and to the quality of our volunteering programme.
“Our volunteers make a significant difference every day to patients and their families and to our staff. They are highly valued and as an organisation we are committed to providing the best possible volunteering experience. We do this by providing a range of training opportunities, facilitating volunteer peer support group meetings, and recently the programme has been awarded a grant from the Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board Endowment Fund to fund any volunteer’s expenses such as travel to and from where they carry out their volunteer role and training events.”
Margaret McGroggan, Volunteer Co-ordinator for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said:
“We are delighted to launch this new campaign to recruit more volunteers to take up roles in our community hospitals. It’s a very exciting time for everyone involved. It will be wonderful to see the patients and their families and our staff in the community hospitals benefit in the same way as they do at DGRI and Mountainhall Treatment Centre.
“For anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer there is so much to be gained from being a part of this programme.
“People take up the role of volunteer for a whole host of reasons including gaining valuable experience, improving employability prospects, socialising and meeting new people, bringing structure to the week and being active. For some it’s a way of building up or regaining confidence and for some it’s very simply about helping others.
“The launch coincides with the news of this award which is a boost to everyone already involved and encouraging for anyone about to take up a volunteering role with NHS Dumfries and Galloway. As well as providing an invaluable service for our patients and their families and our staff, our volunteers find being part of the programme to be a rewarding, fun and interesting experience.”
The volunteer recruitment team will be in Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Moffat, Lochmaben, Thornhill, Annan and Dumfries between the 13th November and 28th November.
For further information about the events check out NHS D&G Facebook page throughout November, or you can contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01387 246246 or email [email protected]
