How volunteering can be a source of wellbeing for all | Letters

Readers respond to George Monbiot’s article about Frome in Somerset’s pioneering community and volunteering project

As the founder of HelpForce, a new organisation using the power of volunteering to improve health and wellbeing, it is exciting but not surprising to see evidence that hospital admissions fell when isolated people in Somerset were supported by volunteers (George Monbiot, Journal, 21 February). With the NHS under increasing strain, there is an urgent need for volunteers to play a greater role in UK healthcare. Volunteers can really help healthcare professionals and organisations meet the diverse care and support needs of patients, and are particularly important for supporting vulnerable patients who don’t have their own support networks.

Volunteering is good for the people being supported, health and social care services, charities, the volunteers themselves and the community. But while we benefit from over 78,000 people volunteering with acute NHS trusts, they are rarely integrated into NHS strategies or service delivery plans. This is a missed opportunity. We want to help double the number of volunteers in the NHS by 2021, and improve perceptions, investment and evidence for volunteering. If we can unlock the full potential of volunteers, we can ensure that more patients, volunteers, NHS staff and healthcare providers can benefit more quickly.
Thomas Hughes-Hallett
Founder and chair of HelpForce

Continue reading... February 23, 2018 at 10:02PM