Volunteers Week 1-7 June

Where would we be without our volunteers? In a word – lost. Throughout our care homes, retirement living communities and Live at Home schemes, the work of 7,000 dedicated staff is hugely enhanced by 4,000 volunteers who so freely and generously give their time and skills. As befrienders, fundraisers, drivers, entertainers and more, their time and skills help older people to keep living life to the full.

How can we thank such vital, selfless people? Some, like Rachel Powell, say volunteering is its own reward. Rachel says she gained “a new life” in volunteering at Shifnal Live at Home, starting after new medication offered some relief from chronic ill health. She went on to become Assistant Manager, then Manager – the first work she had been able to do for 27 years.

Some get a royal audience. In honour of MHA’s receipt of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award, two long-timers – Roy Pritchard from Hall Grange in Surrey and Sandra Clack from Stones Place in Lincoln – represented all MHA’s volunteers when they met the Queen and Prince Philip at St James’s Palace.

But ultimately, nothing is really adequate thanks. So we do the best we can. As Volunteers Week gets underway, homes and schemes all over MHA will hold events to show the gratitude we feel every day for these people, who are invaluable and priceless – quite literally.

If you are interested in volunteering, call 01332 296 200 or email enquiries@mha.org.uk to find out how you could assist at your local MHA home or scheme. Or click here for more information.

Alison Slater

Services Manager - Community Services