News from our partners: Healthwatch says thank you to volunteers who help to shape health and care in Shropshire
News from our partners Healthwatch Shropshire
Health and social care champion Healthwatch Shropshire will celebrate the difference volunteers make to their community during this year’s Volunteers Week, which runs from Saturday 1 June – Friday 7 June 2019.
Healthwatch Shropshire logo
More than 20 volunteers currently offer their time to Healthwatch Shropshire in its work to make health and care services meet the needs of local people.
Steph Dunbar, Volunteer Officer at Healthwatch Shropshire, said:
“We have a fantastic team of volunteers, who do a wide range of activities for Healthwatch Shropshire. Volunteers Week is the perfect opportunity to publicly thank them for all their hard work and support.
“It’s thanks to our volunteers that we are able to get out and about into so many of our communities and listen to the views and experiences of so many on local health and social care services.
“We are always looking for more volunteers and would love to hear from people, whatever their background. We’d encourage people to get in touch and have a chat about the many ways they can get involved with Healthwatch Shropshire and making a difference to their communities.”
Volunteers are regularly out talking and listening to people in the community, finding out what is good and what could be improved about local health and social care services. They are often found at community events, but also visit the services themselves to speak to people and gather their views.
By helping people have their say about NHS and social care services, volunteers at Healthwatch Shropshire donated more than , hours of their time last year.
And they are also part of a network of more than 5,000 people who are involved with Healthwatch across the country. The work at each local Healthwatch contributes to work at Healthwatch England in its mission to ensure that people are at the heart of care.
Helen, a volunteer at Healthwatch Shropshire, said:
“Volunteering for Healthwatch Shropshire is so rewarding and the team of staff and volunteers are so friendly and helpful. Since retiring 4 years ago I have really enjoyed the challenge of being an Enter and View representative visiting health services across Shropshire and listening to what residents of Shropshire say about care homes, hospitals and doctors.”
All volunteers with Healthwatch Shropshire go through a full training and personal development programme. They are given a comprehensive volunteer handbook and welcome pack and out of pocket expenses are also reimbursed.
To find out more about volunteering with Healthwatch Shropshire call Steph on 01743 237884 or email enquiries@healthwatchshropshire.co.uk or visit www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/get-involved
If you are unable to volunteer, you can still make a difference by sharing your experiences of health and social care services with us. No matter how big or small, we want to hear about it. Visit www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/content/speak-out or call 01743 237884.
Further information
- Healthwatch Shropshire is the county’s independent health and social care champion. It exists to ensure that people are at the heart of care. Teams of staff and volunteers listen to what people like about local health and social care services, and what could be improved. These views are then shared with the decision-making organisations, so together a real difference can be made. More information: healthwatchshropshire.co.uk
- Healthwatch England is the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We exist to ensure that people are at the heart of care. https://www.healthwatch.co.uk
- Key facts about Healthwatch volunteers: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2016-06-08/what-motivates-people-volunteer
- Find out more on the Volunteers’ Week website: https://volunteersweek.org/
- Find out about events happening in your area here: https://volunteersweek.org/get-involved/events/
- For volunteering statistics visit https://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac17/volunteering-overview/
