Mildmay Hospital’s band of volunteers are a vital part of our team, supporting and enriching our work to transform the lives of our patients with complex HIV.
Our volunteer co-ordinator Dominic provides a vital link between volunteers and our organisation. As well as carrying out initial interviews and making sure the right role fits the right person, his support is on-going, ensuring our volunteers benefit as much as we do from the precious gift they give of their time and skills.
“For me the most rewarding part of my role is seeing volunteers develop in confidence over time. When people first start they are often understandably a bit nervous and it is great to see their personalities really start to shine through as they grow into the role.”
Volunteer opportunities at Mildmay range from working on the wards, in our gym, in our Chaplaincy team-which is made-up almost entirely of volunteers, supporting Day Therapy including garden, art therapies and the music group. There are also exciting events that Mildmay would find impossible to deliver without volunteer support, such as Pride in London and our annual Christmas carol concert.
Volunteering at Mildmay can sometimes be challenging as our patient needs are complex, but the reward to be found in the knowledge that your input has made a real difference to the lives and recovery of patients are ten-fold. There is also an important social side to volunteering. Dominic arranges a yearly volunteering thank you BBQ which staff join, such events even uncover some hidden musical talents! Of course, there are also Christmas get-togethers and regular news updates to keep that volunteer ball rolling!
Dominic brings humour, compassion and great skill to his role and ensures our volunteers find their time at Mildmay rewarding and enjoyable and our patients get the very best out of this important relationship. He also works to make sure we maintain a diversity of ages, backgrounds and skills to reflect the range of patents we support.
Quite simply we could not achieve all we do without our volunteers and Dominic in his role as volunteer co-ordinator.
We are so grateful that the Big Lottery has funded this post for a further three years.
“I do Lumosity (brain training software) which is helping me get my memory back. Our volunteer has helped me such a lot and is so kind and patient.”
“The volunteers help me to wheel my chair to the garden project because I can’t wheel it on the pavement. I love the garden project and the garden is a fantastic place”
“Jane is a very good, loving and caring person, she helps us and gives us advice on benefits and updates us on what the government are doing.
“The chaplaincy volunteers are wonderful and they bring the message of God to us. They respect me, make me happy and feel important and are my good friends.”
To find out more about volunteering at Mildmay and the opportunities on offer please email volunteer.coordinator@mildmay.org
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