Volunteer Shelley Johnson
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will soon be welcoming a new host of volunteers thanks to a recruitment drive during Volunteers’ Week.
Volunteers’ Week ran from 1-12 June 2016, and the Health Board took this opportunity to highlight the important work that its dedicated army of volunteers undertake and to say ‘Thank you’ for the valuable contribution they provide.
During this period, volunteers shared what it meant to them to be a volunteer on social media, reaching an outstanding 800,000 timelines through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, sending out a clear message to anyone interested in volunteering to give their time to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
As a result of this call-to-action, Volunteer Service Manager, Michelle Fowler, dealt with over 100 email enquiries, 43 telephone calls, and issued over 30 application forms to those interested in becoming a volunteer.
A ‘Thank You’ event was held at the University Hospital of Wales on Friday 3 June where volunteers and volunteer fundraisers came along to celebrate the difference they make to the Health Board.
The celebration was hosted by Ruth Walker, Executive Nurse Director, and Marcus Longley, Vice Chair at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Guests were entertained by Step Up Medical Student Choir, and an emotional personal story from Shelley Johnson, Volunteer of the Year, about why she chose to volunteer.
Shelley volunteers with cardiac patients, providing exercise classes for cardiac rehabilitation for those who have suffered heart attacks or had heart surgery.
Shelley said: “I just wanted to give something back to the NHS for the care I received when I was a patient after a horrific car accident.
“I’ve been volunteering for over a year now and it’s so rewarding. It has been an amazing process.”
“Fitness has always been a part of my life, so it’s good to be able to share this with others and get them on the road to recovery.
“I encourage patients to do moderate intensity circuits to increase their aerobic endurance, and in many of them you see a massive difference in their confidence.
Ruth Walker, Executive Nurse Director said: “We have over 650 health board and third sector volunteers within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board who make a vital contribution to the services we provide.
“I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to our volunteers for everything they do, helping us to care for people and keep people well.”
