A range of special events are taking place across the UK to celebrate the involvement of younger volunteers (16 to 25 year olds) in health and to encourage more young people to get involved as part of Health Month 09.
Run by Time for Health, for the successive third year, activities include volunteer road shows at seven hospital sites across England and a national mental health conference in London, as well as free volunteer training sessions for all those wishing to develop their opportunities to engage younger volunteers in health.
Time for Health is an initiative formed between the largest volunteering organisations in health (Attend, Hospital Broadcasting Association, NAVSM, TimeBank and WRVS) to provide a representative voice for volunteering in the NHS. This year Time for Health is particularly promoting the value of volunteering by younger people in health and social care across the UK. Health Month ‘09 is sponsored by the Department of Health.
David Wood, Chief Executive of Attend, said
“Volunteering in the NHS makes a huge impact and improves the experience of patients, carers and the local community. This year we are particularly excited to be working with partners who recognise the input of younger volunteers and hope to increase the overall number of opportunities for volunteers in the 16 to 25 age group. By volunteering with a local hospital people have an opportunity to get involved and support their local community. Our aim is to demonstrate the value of younger volunteers and to open the doors to more young people.”
Roadshows will take place at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (21st Jan) and at Attend’s Mental Health Conference, Olympia Hotel, London (29th Jan). Due to demand there will also be roadshows in February at six hospitals in partnership with local NHS Trusts.
At each roadshow, Time for Health will carry out surveys of people’s perceptions of volunteering with a focus on the input and expectations of younger people and what would encourage them to give their time. The findings will be used to promote the benefits of volunteering in the NHS and to recruit new volunteers.
Health Month ’09 also includes one-day training sessions aimed at identifying how health organisations can engage and include younger people more effectively. The sessions are open to voluntary groups working in the health sector and to people with responsibility for working with and coordinating younger volunteers in hospitals.
For further information about Health Month ’09 and events across the country go to www.timeforhealth.org.uk
People who want to find out more and get involved in local volunteer opportunities in health should call 0845 4500285
-ENDS-
For more information:
Beverley Smith, Head of Projects, Attend.
Tel 0207 307 2871
Email Beverley.smith@attend.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Roadshows are scheduled to take place at the following venues:
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (West Atrium) Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY January 21st
Attend Mental Health Conference, Hilton London Olympia Hotel, Kensington High Street, London January 29th – delegates only
Loughborough Hospital ( Leicestershire and Rutland PCT) Hospital Way, Loughborough, LE11 5JY date tbc
Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Court Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET date tbc
Colchester General Hospital, Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, Turner Road, Colchester, C04 5JL date tbc
Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ date tbc
Grantham and District Hospital, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Manthorpe Road, Grantham NG31 8DG date tbc
Workshops on engaging and supporting younger volunteers will take place in Manchester (26th Jan) and London (27th Jan)
Time For Health Members are:
Attend
Hospital Broadcasting Association
The National Association for Voluntary Service Managers
TimeBank
WRVS
Time for Health is an initiative established in June 2006 between the largest volunteering organisations in health to provide a representative voice for volunteering in the NHS. It paves the way for closer working between over 200,000 volunteers in over 1,000 health and social care locations across the UK