TNHS Dumfries and Galloway has proudly received the UK Investing in Volunteers award for the third time running, demonstrating best practice in volunteer involvement and management and is testament to the dedication of everyone involved, above all our fantastic volunteers.
The Chief Executive, Chair of the Board and Endowment Fund Manager for the organisation presented plaques marking the achievement to volunteers across the region.
The national award has recognised and acknowledged once again the volunteer involvement by people of all ages and backgrounds, the training and development offered and undertaken, and the range of benefits this brings for patients and their families, visitors, staff and the volunteers themselves.
Jeff Ace, Chief Executive, NHS D&G, said:
“I am delighted to present this plaque to our volunteers to mark this tremendous achievement. They are remarkable people who make a difference every day to patients, visitors and staff. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they do in their individual roles and as a team.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is involved with our volunteering programme for their commitment to making it one worthy of such an award.”
Joan Pollard, Director of Allied Health Professions, NHS D&G, said:
“We have a long history of volunteering and with the opening of the new Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for the region in December 2017 that expanded significantly. The programme went from strength to strength with over 200 volunteers supporting patients, their families and staff at healthcare facilities throughout the region.
“During the pandemic as you would expect those numbers reduced as many of our volunteers were unable to carry out their roles in person, understandably putting their own or family member’s health and wellbeing first. In the past few months we have been delighted to see our volunteers returning to their roles along with some new recruits.
“The Investing in Volunteers Award acknowledges the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers, and to the quality of our volunteering programme.”
“Our volunteers make a significant difference every day to patients and their families and to our staff. They are highly valued and as an organisation we are committed to providing the best possible volunteering experience.”
One of the many letters and emails of thanks received from a family demonstrates the difference that volunteers are making.
“I would like to thank you for the incredible support you gave us during our darkest days at DGRI Critical Care Unit prior to losing one of our family. It was a truly awful time for us all and you appeared like a beacon of light to provide practical support, wisdom and light hearted conversation as well as a great cup of tea. Your role as a volunteer within the Critical Care Department is invaluable. It is such an uncertain time for relatives – your life really is in total turmoil and to have someone so level and strong really is a calming force.”
There are many expressions of appreciation from staff across the region regarding the impact volunteers have made both during the pandemic and on a day to day basis.
Plans are underway for national Volunteer Week in June with a range of events and activities locally that were not possible at all in the first year of the pandemic, and on a very small scale in the second.
Following national Volunteer Week some of our volunteers are set to attend the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh on 29 June. This year our volunteers have a lot to celebrate.
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