Vital work celebrated in Volunteers Week 2015

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is marking the week with special events to recruit new volunteers to serve in the Trust’s five hospitals, plus various community health facilities.

Members of the public thinking about becoming a hospital volunteer are encouraged to come along to a volunteer recruitment event at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Thursday, June 4th and Friday, June 5th. All events start at 10 am and finish at 3 pm.

Meanwhile, throughout this week (June 1st to 7th), Lancashire Police will be showcasing the different volunteering roles on offer, taster sessions and team challenges with new partners, to volunteer recruitment events, awards ceremonies and launching new volunteering campaigns. Volunteering roles in the police range from providing mentoring support to vulnerable individuals and families to community road watch schemes, health and wellbeing administrators, viewing CCTV footage, supporting police at community events and getting involved with specific departments such as CSI or Early Action.

Mr Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Volunteers are an absolutely vital part of Lancashire Police – they help make the Constabulary the outstanding Force it is.

“One of my key priorities as Police and Crime Commissioner is to defend frontline policing and volunteers help us achieve this by working alongside officers and police staff.”

Similar views were expressed by Mr Kevin McGee, chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, who said: “Our volunteers play a massive role within the Trust providing support for our staff and community.

“They are a great asset and I can’t thank them enough for the time they dedicate to us.”

The Trust currently has 400 volunteers of all ages who help on wards, at reception/welcome desks, hospital radio, infant feeding support, and the multi-faith Spiritual Centre. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact 01254 732809.