Each day, an average of 150–200 patients at our hospital are supported by carers, who are often navigating emotional, practical, and personal challenges while their loved ones are being treated. 

We fund the Carer Experience Volunteer Service, which plays a vital role in offering comfort, reassurance, and practical help to these carers and their families. On average, our dedicated team of volunteers visits 81 families per day, but as demand continues to grow, we are working to expand the team so we can reach even more carers in need.

Our Carer Experience Volunteers – easily recognised by their warm smiles and signature pink uniforms – spend time with carers to help make the hospital experience a little easier.

Whether that’s offering a listening ear, helping to arrange video calls between loved ones, guiding carers to available services, or simply being a calming presence on the ward, the volunteers provide meaningful support to both patients and their families.

They also signpost families to further support, ensuring they know where to turn for help both during and after their hospital experience.

Working closely with hospital staff, our volunteers help make sure carers feel seen, supported, and not alone.

Help us continue to provide this vital serve to support our patients with carers.

Our Carer Experience Volunteer team supported Geraldine and William, a couple facing a challenging time. Geraldine had been admitted to hospital after a fall, and was extremely worried about her husband, William, who couldn’t visit as he was unwell at home with a bug.

Their daughters, Ruth and Claire, said:

"We want to sincerely thank the Carer Experience Volunteers for the incredible support they gave our parents during a really difficult time. Our mum was in hospital while our dad was unwell at home, and it was such a comfort to know they weren’t facing it alone.

"The volunteers kindly helped arrange FaceTime calls from the hospital so they could still see and talk to each other, even though they couldn’t be together in person. It meant so much to them — and to us — and we’re truly grateful for your kindness, warmth, and care."

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If you have a few hours a week to spare, and lived experience of caring for someone, we’d love to hear from you. To find out more about becoming a Carer Experience Volunteer, please call 01438 286965 or email [email protected].