Published on: 4th June 2015
To help mark national Volunteers' Week (June 1 to 7), Trust Chair Paul Devlin has written a letter of thanks to all Trust volunteers.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has around 100 volunteers who give up their spare time to offer a variety of assistance and support to patients and staff across the county.
From friendship groups to helping out at inpatient units, volunteering can take a variety of forms, helping to improve patient experiences throughout the Trust.
The letter from Paul reads as follows:
Dear Volunteers
As we mark national Volunteers’ Week I wanted to take the opportunity to write to all of you to express my thanks and gratitude for everything you do for the benefit of patients and staff across the Trust every single day.
I have worked in the Third Sector for many years and know how critical volunteers’ contributions can be.
The fantastic work carried out by volunteers from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust does not go unnoticed and it’s something I have been extremely impressed with since taking up my post as Chair last month. Volunteers’ Week is now an annual celebration of the amazing contribution millions of volunteers make across the country, and the input from those in the Trust is among the best and varied that I have seen.
Our volunteers play a part in aiding every aspect of patients’ recovery, making a difference by offering support, skills, kindness, care, and above all a friendly face and helping hand at all times.
Some of the work you’ve been involved in over the past year, including supporting our eating disorders group in Lincoln, providing musical entertainment at Rochford Unit and Witham Court, and helping support social groups for patients and carers in Grantham and Spalding is invaluable.
Your work supporting service users at the new Recovery College in Lincoln and continuing with the ever popular Pets As Therapy Dog service is also vitally important.
Whether you give a little of your time or a lot, the contribution of your volunteering is something worth celebrating and this week is a great time to highlight the range of ways to get involved and share stories and experiences to inspire others to do the same.
I very much hope to meet some of you in my time as Chair and hope that you all continue the incredible work you’ve been doing. Thank you once again for the dedication and commitment you show to improving patient experiences across the Trust.
Best wishes.
Paul Devlin.
Chair.
