430 VOLUNTEERS NEWLY RECRUITED
Our volunteers It’s been another great year for the volunteer team at the Royal Free Charity as we continue to provide a vital helping hand to our patients and hospital staff. Our emphasis has been on expanding the network, investing in our volunteers and monitoring our impact.
OUR IMPACT
olunteers gave 65,000 800 vhours of their time
NEW VOLUNTEER ROLES CREATE AN IMPACT
Our volunteers make a significant impact by lightening the load for staff and patients across our three hospitals. Our volunteer roles have expanded this year and now include administrative support to the community paediatrics team and volunteer assistants in the blood room, bereavement service, chemotherapy day unit and pharmacy. Their presence provides patients with much-needed comfort and help which enables the clinical staff to spend more time focusing on the patients’ clinical needs. PAIN PROGR AMME
Escape Pain is a programme offering rehabilitation for people with chronic joint pain by integrating simple education, self-management and coping strategies, with an exercise regime. Volunteers assist the therapist twice a week during the 12-week programme, helping to set up equipment, greet patients and offer encouragement and support during the circuit training session. The success of these roles has led to a number of other inpatient and outpatient therapy groups requesting a regular volunteer and there is scope to expand this support to other groups and sites. YOUNG VOLUNTEERS JOIN THE R ANKS
A total of 166 new young volunteers have joined the team, including two young people who have completed the Duke of Edinburgh gold award with us and a group of 24 school-age volunteers who have raised £5,767 through a variety of initiatives.
“ So far so good, I am so happy I can socialise with the patients and some of them have lived extraordinary lives. I feel privileged speaking to them.” Young volunteer THE YOUNG VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING GPS PROJECT
The project is funded by the Pears Foundation and aims to support general practices by creating an interface with voluntary and community sector organisations and the wider community, and encouraging young people to become active citizens. We had a great response from young people applying to volunteer and we were able to interview and place 22 volunteers across the seven practices we support. The project has been paused by the pandemic but we hope our volunteers will be able to finish their placements in the future.
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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2019–20
owns made for staff caring 50,000 gfor Covid-19 patients
pecialist interactions with 838 speople living with dementia
ours’ worth of relaxing 1,000 hmassages for patients and staff
nteractions with patients 6,000 iand staff with one of our 15 friendly therapy dogs
ays of music and entertainment 365 dbrought to patients and staff through Royal Free Radio
ew sets of clothes delivered 30 nto patients each month so they
can travel home with dignity and in comfort
young volunteers assisting in 166 na ew variety of roles across the sites
