The benefits of having volunteers on wards are multiple and enormous, eg:
- More time, energy and fresh perspectives on the ward
- Wide range of skills and interests
- Local knowledge, contacts and networks
- Bridging gap between hospital and community
- Can increase diversity of support available to patients, especially from minority communities (eg faith, BME, lesbian and gay, older/younger)
- Increases awareness of reality of inpatient care and mental illness, reduces stigma
- Frees up staff time to specialise in different areas
Here’s a bunch of ideas for different roles for volunteers.
An A-Z of volunteering on mental health wards
Advocacy
Arts & crafts
Befriending/ buddying
Benefit advice
Café
Carer support
Chaplaincy Visitor
Clubs eg book club, film club, gardening club, computer club, art club
Computers and Internet
Dining Companion
Entertainment and events
Exercise to music
Expert patient
Fish tank maintenance
Flower and plant care
Fundraising
Games players (e.g chess player companion)
Gardening
Hairdressing
Home escorts for vulnerable patients
Information/leaflet organisers
Information provider
Interpreter
Letter writer
Librarian
Magazine supplier and reader
Massage and aromatherapy massage
Mealtime support
Meet and greet/welcomer
Music
Pampering for the ladies, grooming for the gents
PAT dogs/ animal visits
Peer educators (various projects)
Plain language volunteers (to de-jargon written materials)
Returning home support
Runner (of errands in and out of hospital)
Shoppers
Skin camouflage (for patients who self-harm)
Social events organisers /helpers
Speech and language volunteers
Sport companions and organisers
Support groups for specific health conditions
Therapeutic hand care
Transport (drivers)
Walking companions
Yoga
Zoo visitor
With thanks to Volunteering England (www.volunteering.org.uk)
