This week is Volunteers' Week, and we are celebrating the exceptional people who give up their time to make a difference to our services.
Now in its 41st year, Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of the impact volunteers have on our communities and the benefits of volunteering.
Joanne Massey Shand, Volunteering Manager, said: "I would like to thank all our volunteers for the commitment they give to volunteering with us. We really do appreciate you and everything you do. You make a big difference to the work of our trust!"
Volunteers bring energy, compassion and unique skills to many teams across our trust, from supporting clinical care and offering spiritual guidance to co-facilitating groups and editing newsletters, making their contributions deeply valued.
This video showcases what our volunteers gain from giving their time to support our trust.
We currently have nearly 50 volunteers giving their time to services such as our Recovery College, Youth Counselling Service, Therapeutic Groups for Older People, Pastoral and Spiritual Care and more. Roles include Volunteer Public Research Champions, a Clinical Psychologist in Children and Young People's Services and a Volunteer Co-Facilitator in our Early Intervention in Psychosis Service.
Our teams share messages below on what their volunteers mean to them.
Children and Young People's Youth Counselling Service – Deputy Manager
We continue to be immensely grateful for our dedicated and committed Volunteer Counsellor workforce, who’s contribution and value to our team is truly unmeasurable. The wealth of knowledge, experience, therapeutic and clinical skills they bring, as well as diversity in counselling training and modality, not only widens the counselling offer, but doubles the number of therapy sessions available to young people across West Surrey and Northeast Hampshire accessing CYPS Youth Counselling Service.
Recovery College Team
The volunteers provide the College with essential lived experience and skills for facilitating our courses showing our students just how realistic recovery is. They show true empathy and give their time so freely meaning we are able to run so many Recovery College Courses. Our volunteers inspire us everyday and never cease to astound us with their resilience, honesty and compassion. Without them the Recovery College would not be the continuing success story it is today, and we thank them wholeheartedly for what they do.
Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team – Head of Pastoral and Spiritual Care
Our volunteer assistant chaplains are exceptionally skilled spiritual care providers who engage with people using service both in the hospital wards and the local community. They dedicate their time to serving the spiritual needs of those who use our services as well as our staff. Their extensive pastoral and spiritual expertise significantly enhance the overall quality of the chaplaincy service – in one word Invaluable!
HOPE Service - Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
Having a past Children Adolescence MHS user and someone who has personally used the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) parent approach, co-facilitate NVR parent groups with an SABP clinician, has been a real game changer. Hearing from someone who has personal experience has made such a difference to parents attending the group and facilitated learning for clinicians.
New Spenser Ward Therapies Team
Having volunteers helps us to provide varied activities and provide groups we might not be otherwise able to facilitate. We love having our volunteers come in and extend our biggest thanks to all volunteers across the trust.