Volunteering

Volunteers make up a large part of our "team" at the Drop In Centre and are very valuable to the project. Each brings his/her own special qualities and contribution to the team. Although they come from a wide range of backgrounds they share a common wish to help to support children, young people and their families at the Centre, making their time at hospital easier and less stressful.

On joining the volunteer team, they are all given specific training to develop the skills required for assisting at the Centre. Each volunteer commits to giving 3hrs of their time/week providing continuity to the children, young people and their families who visit the Centre. They help by accompanying the children and young people to and from the wards, spending time with them while they are having a break from the wards, or whilst their parents are talking to staff or having complementary therapies. This extract from Megan sums up the wide range of activity which volunteers can be involved in at the Drop In Centre.

'I always look forward to a Thursday - it's adolescents' evening and volunteering at the Drop In Centre! The centre provides patients and their families with the chance to get away from it all, and everything clinical about the wards. In the same way, as a volunteer, I feel totally relaxed in the environment of the drop in centre, and enjoy meeting new people every week, as well as catching up with some of our regular visitors.

I believe that the Drop In Centre's greatest strength is that the atmosphere is always so 'chilled out'; a result of the staff and volunteers, but also the patients and their families. It's incredibly rewarding! Sometimes we bring a child who was bored and lonely on the wards down - their eyes just light up when they see the computers with broadband and widescreen television. Yet it is usually arts and crafts and board games which are most popular (among visitors and volunteers alike), and a game of 'express monopoly' or 'Jenga' has never failed to get everyone involved. And ... since volunteering at the Drop In Centre, I've learned to hula hoop ... you'll have to drop in and see me, I'm led to believe it's quite a sight!

Volunteers are a very important part of our service. They help look after children of all ages and offer their support however it is needed. We are very grateful to them and they are always happy to welcome new and returning visitors.