Hear from our volunteers

At Mid Yorkshire, we are proud to offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities that make a real difference in the lives of our patients, their families, and our dedicated staff. Our volunteers are amazing and on this page, you can read some of their stories and experiences of volunteering at the Trust.

We recently spoke to James, one of our ward befrienders and guide desk volunteers.

How long have you been volunteering and what made you want to be a volunteer?

This is my ninth year. Back in school and college, I was always the quieter student and never had confidence for anything. My sister encouraged me to apply and helped me with it. It’s been a big change for me because I used to say I would never do this, but now I’m a ward befriender and on the guide desk all day on Thursdays.

What does being a volunteer mean to you and how do you think you've changed as a person?

It definitely means helping people out, because I’ve always been that kind of person. If I can help people, I will help people. Volunteering has given me confidence, even with speaking. I have cerebral palsy and my speech I not too perfect for speaking, but volunteering has really helped me since I started here.

Why do you think we need volunteers at the Trust? How do they make a difference?

At the guide desk we’re often the first contact for people. We show them where to go, sometimes take them places, and even help in stressful situations. I’ve had people thank me after taking them to appointments in a wheelchair. 

What have been the highlights so far?

I won Volunteer of the Year for helping a woman who was in labour. I managed to get her to maternity just in time. It was a bit of a shock because we’re not medical staff, but it’s good to do such important work. It’s also really nice to make friends with people I volunteer with and talk to people. A lot of staff are grateful too.

What would you say to someone who's considering volunteering?

I’d say every day is different. Some days it’s quiet, other days it’s really busy. You get the variety, you know? It's not boring. There are also lots of different roles, not just at the guide desk. I like that the t-shirts are brightly coloured so people know where you are. But really, I just want to highlight the great jobs that all the volunteers do. Just because you’re not paid doesn’t mean you’re not valuable.