Celebrating our extraordinary volunteers
National Volunteers' Week 2nd - 8th June is a special time for us to come together and celebrate the incredible dedication, generosity, and compassion of the volunteers who give their time to support our hospitals.
At Barts Health, we are privileged to have over 1,000 active volunteers working across our sites, each one making a meaningful difference every single day.
The volunteers make a tremendous difference here at SDEC - not only for our patients and visitors, but also for the entire staff. Whether they're offering a reassuring presence in the waiting area, helping someone find their way, or simply sharing a kind word, they bring warmth and humanity to our hospital.
Our volunteers are engaged in a wide range of non-clinical activities, all designed to enhance the experience of patients, visitors, and staff. Whether it’s offering a listening ear, providing comfort, supporting with meals, or simply being a reassuring presence, their contributions are invaluable.
Without the support of the volunteers, the complementary therapies service would not be operational. The service supports Trust patients that are living with cancer or that have palliative care needs. I am so lucky to head a team of such dedicated volunteer therapists and the quality of the therapy service provided by the volunteers is exceptional.
You’ll often spot our Active Response volunteers in their distinctive turquoise uniforms, moving purposefully through the hospital corridors. Fully trained, vetted, and ready to assist, they embody the spirit of service and are always on hand to help wherever they’re needed.
Volunteers in action - seen and unseen
Our volunteers don’t just support patients face-to-face. Many volunteer behind the scenes on essential but less visible tasks, our unsung heroes. From preserving our rich history in archives and museums, assisting with clinical research projects (patient research champions), gathering crucial patient feedback through surveys, or making reminder calls to reduce missed appointments, each role is vital.
A massive thank you to the volunteering team for the amazing support since Sep 2024. We have been able to reduce our DNA from 30% to 12%!
How you can show your appreciation
This week, and every week, we encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate a volunteer. Here are just a few ways you can do that:
- Say thank you – a few kind words can go a long way.
- Nominate a volunteer for a Barts Health Heroes Award, let’s shine a spotlight on their exceptional contributions.
We’re grateful for our charity partners and volunteer groups, including Barts Charity, Friends of the Royal London, Barts Guild, Rahere Association, London’s Air Ambulance, Good Gym, Sky Cares, and more .
A special thank you also goes to volunteers supporting causes like breastfeeding advocacy, neuro-rehabilitation (Headway East), cancer support (Macmillan), chaplaincy, complementary therapist, and more.