Long service awards for hospital volunteers

Awards will be presented to a loyal band of hospital volunteers who have amassed more than 500 years’ service.

A celebratory lunch has been organised for the people who donate their time to Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie. Among them are volunteers from the hospital radio station, Radio Addenbrooke’s, the chaplaincy and the Pets as Therapy team.

Awards will be presented at Addenbrooke’s on Tuesday 9 June by Dr Mary Archer, Chairman of Cambridge University Hospitals. Staff will serve volunteers refreshments as a thank you for their hard work, while students from Cambridge University will perform classical music.

The longest serving volunteer is Joan Andrew, who is collecting a 30 year award. Joan, 89, volunteers up to twice a week in clinic seven, an outpatients clinic, where she keeps patients company, makes tea and generally lends a helping hand when needed.

 

She said: “I like helping people, I find it very rewarding. The staff are so hardworking – it’s a privilege to be part of the team. A friend of mine was a volunteer here, that’s how I first got involved. I enjoy it very much.”

Suzanne Rigby-Jones, Voluntary Services Manager, said: “This event is our small way of saying thank you to the 700 volunteers who regularly give their time to benefit the hospital. The work they do makes such a difference to staff and patients and we are very grateful to the hard work and energy they bring to the hospitals. We have a diverse team of volunteers who carry out a wide range of tasks such as providing company and social support to patients and we want to celebrate not only our long-serving volunteers but all our volunteers who give their time.”

If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer, email volunteer@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or call Suzanne Rigby-Jones on 01223 217356.