Volunteer Celebration Event: A thank you to our volunteers
Last week, we celebrated the incredible contribution of volunteers at a special volunteer celebration event.
The event was a chance to thank our volunteers for the time and commitment they give across the Trust, while also bringing people together to share stories and experiences from their volunteering roles.
Joseph Kiguwa, BME Volunteer Coordinator said: “Even with their lived experience, our volunteers still have the time to support other people, and that is very valuable indeed. We can’t overestimate how much they mean to us.
As part of the celebration, each volunteer received a certificate as a personal thank you from the Trust in recognition of their dedication and support.
The event featured a lively performance from the Ladywell Ukulele Group, helping to create a joyful and welcoming atmosphere.
There were also talks from a range of services, including Finance, the Peer Support service, and the Chaplaincy service.
Volunteers also shared the power of creativity with animations shared by the Peer Support service and poems read from the Writing Group.
Many shared moving stories from their work on the wards, including involvement in the Sunday Art Group, men’s group and women’s group.
These stories highlighted the positive impact volunteering has on service users and the supportive relationships that volunteers help to build.
One of the volunteers touched on how volunteering has changed her life and the people around her.
She said: “It's quite amazing how much there is out there that can fill your day and stop you from sitting at home. It was very noticeable over COVID how many people found it really difficult to walk out of there front door and being able to interact with those friends of mine and bring them back out through my volunteering was really good for me and for them.”
Adding to the celebration, therapy dogs were also part of the event, bringing comfort, warmth and plenty of smiles to those attending.
The event was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the wide-ranging contributions of volunteers across the Trust and to celebrate the compassion, creativity and commitment they bring to our services every day.
Thank you to all of our volunteers across the Trust, bringing happiness and supporting the mental health of our community
Interested in volunteering?
We are always looking to welcome new people to join our volunteering team and get involved in our work. If you are over 16 and can make a commitment of at least three hours per week for nine months then why not think about volunteering with us.
There are a variety of roles for our volunteers - including befriending service users, helping occupational therapists and gardening.
You will need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service check, attend training, supply two references and complete an Occupational Health disclosure before you can start volunteering because most roles will involve contact with vulnerable adults.
You can find out more about volunteering with us on our website here: Information about volunteering at South London and Maudsley
