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Suffolk NHS trust celebrates hard-working volunteers
Volunteers from the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) have gathered to celebrate their achievements in 2024, at an event which included the presentation of 46 long service awards. The celebration on Monday, 23 December at the West Suffolk Hospital (WSH) was an opportunity for the Trust to acknowledge and thank those who so generously give their time.
Since the beginning of 2024, the 300 WSFT volunteers have donated a whopping 37,366 hours to the Trust – an increase of 1,288 hours on the previous year. This was a chance for them to catch up with each other, and enjoy a buffet sponsored by the My WiSH Charity, as well as applaud the recipients of long service awards.
Maureen Orange, volunteer on the main reception desk at the West Suffolk Hospital, has been giving her time to the Trust for 25 years. She said: “I have done most of my volunteering on main reception and I love it. You meet so many lovely people and the patients are so incredibly brave. I hope I am a nice smiley face for them to see as they come in and can do something to help them with their visit.”
Lee Ranson, volunteer services lead at the Trust, said: “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible team of volunteers, who dedicate their time and energy to support our patients and staff across the Trust. Since joining in September, I have been continually amazed by their unwavering commitment and the remarkable impact they make each day.
“There are more than 40 active volunteer roles across the Trust, and our volunteers carry them out with such diligence and care. Whether it's guiding patients, offering a listening ear, or assisting in countless other ways, their presence is felt across the Trust. It’s nearly impossible to walk through a few corridors, step into a department, or visit a ward without spotting one of our volunteers wearing their signature red lanyards — a small symbol of the big difference they make.
“Their kindness, dedication, and hard work is so appreciated by myself, my team and colleagues across the Trust.”
Brian Stoneham received a long service award for volunteering with Radio West Suffolk for 30 years, at their station based at the hospital. Over the past 30 years, he has had his own show once or twice a week, but also fills in wherever he’s needed, including on the sports show. Travelling all the way from Norfolk, he said, “I really enjoy it, if I didn’t, I would not be coming all that way in!”
Peter Seales, who collected his award for 10 years of service to the Trust, said: “I volunteer on ward F8, doing everything but medical tasks – anything the staff or patients need that I can help with.
“I can interact with the patients, perhaps spend 15 minutes with them, just chatting. Then there is making beds, or doing the pharmacy run – collecting the medication people need so they can go home.”
Jeremy Over, executive director of workforce and communications, expressed the thanks of the whole Trust. He said: “We are here to celebrate a group of exceptional people, who represent the heart and soul of Team West Suffolk.
“Thank you for giving the precious gift of your time and care to our patients, their loved ones, our staff, and our teams. The recognition today of our volunteers who have reached a milestone in their years of service is just a token of our appreciation.”
Presented at the event were:
- An award for 30 years’ service
- One for 25 years
- Three for 20 years
- Four for 15 years
- 11 for 10 years
- And 26 for five years.
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