I recently visited an old friend. We first met in 1984 at a youth camp. She was one of the leaders and I, a volunteer, supported the activities she had designed. Now, she is entering the last days of her life at the grand age of ninety-five.
On my visit I asked how she saw her long life, working as a teacher, and after retirement, 30 years as a volunteer in a local primary school, helping and supporting children to read. After a short pause she said, ‘time well spent.’ That was it in a nutshell, 95 years well spent - nothing remarkable perhaps, nothing that will be recorded for future generations. But, she had been and remains a comforting thread within the tapestry my life, always there encouraging, enquiring and present.
When NHS England announced its 10 Year Plan and spoke of the ‘left shift’ and communities, my interest was naturally piqued. The NHS would shift its focus to letting citizens decide and solve the difficult issues regarding health in their own neighbourhood. I still hear debate on what constitutes a ‘neighbourhood’ but what I do know is that in each and every street of our towns people freely give their time to support neighbours who are poorly and in need. Sometimes a nudge is all that is required, and that is the message of our Volunteers’ Week - nudging people to share their skills for their neighbour. The health outcomes could be immense!
After receiving a £100,000 grant (over a three year period) from NHS Charities Together, we are inviting people to volunteer. The invitation to say ‘time well spent’ as they become a thread in the tapestry of another person’s life.
We will be spending some of the grant money with the St. Denys Activity Group, in Southampton. A group of dedicated volunteers who support around 40 people who have used our services. They are exploring the world of time banking whereby members gift their strengths and receive in return the strengths of others. History tells us that people engaged in Time Banks experience greater self-worth, connection with others, and less periods of low mood over time.
We are also working with Age Concern Hampshire to support patients to settle back home after discharge from our hospitals. Volunteers will work with other voluntary and community organisations and associations weaving the threads that will keep people well and connected. This work is initially taking place with patients from Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
Within our Trust we have recruited over 100 volunteers and around 120 volunteers supporting our patients, staff and families from other organisations. This week it is a special time to say thank you. Numbers tell us something but cannot capture the impact of a person’s gift of time to another. Like my dear friend, volunteering is ‘time well spent.’
Dominic Lodge
Community Development Lead