Meet our volunteers

Being a volunteer at the Kingston Maternity Unit was an easy decision for me and I was thrilled when they had a vacancy. Both my children were born at the hospital and we had to spend a week in the hospital with my first born. The team were amazing and looked after me in more than a clinical manner, I was sad to be leaving such good care!

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the community. I assist over the lunch time period and help to ensure that the new mums have their lunches, help them with drinks and also to spend some time chatting with those who aren’t fast asleep.

Being around new life is so precious and I hope that the small things I do for the new parents help to make their time in the hospital a positive experience.

I started volunteering for the Trust during the pandemic at the vaccination centre in Teddington Health and Social Care Centre.

When the vaccinations stopped, they invited me to come and do this new role greeting and supporting members of the public at the entrance of Teddington Hospital. I do some other volunteering as well, so I’m used to interacting with the public and helping people on their way.

There are lots of different services at the hospital and people often aren’t clear where to go. Having a friendly face who can help them find a quick solution can make all the difference.

They may be experiencing a lot of pain or anxiety, so you must be understanding and supportive. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction by doing something worthwhile and making someone’s difficult day that much easier by providing some assurance, with a friendly welcome.

I live locally and I used the hospital myself just a few weeks ago when I injured my arm, so I can vouch for the value of the service we have here to the community.

As a volunteer, we get frequent contact from Liz, our administrator, keeping us updated and thanking us for what we’re doing, making us feel appreciated. That’s very important when you’re not working with a supervisor face- to-face. It’s very useful to have that kind of support.

For someone considering a volunteering role at the Trust, I’d say get in touch and come and experience it for yourself. Each person will find a role particular to them, and you’ll quickly see how you can add value.

I'm very excited to be a part of the volunteer team at the Trust!

I've recently graduated from university where I studied herbal medicine. Throughout this degree I've discovered my passion - supporting and connecting with people.

I truly believe in the power of a smile or an uplifting conversation. Volunteering is a great opportunity to find purpose and spread joy to those around you. I'm so happy to have found this role where I can do just that, and be of value to my community in an impactful way.

Volunteering at Kingston Hospital helped me to gain confidence around other people. I chose to volunteer at Kingston Hospital because two of my children were born there. Giving my free time to the community in this way, I can say thank you to the NHS. I enjoy working at Kingston Hospital, visiting the patients and talking to them.

I adore visiting the patients in the wards before they’re discharged, doing some basic shopping for them if required, keeping them company and making weekly phone calls to see how they are settling in. Also, administer referrals to the local support in the community.

The staff at the ward and volunteers have been supportive and friendly. Being a volunteer helped me to gain experience and develop skills needed for my social worker course.

I became a PetsAsTherapy (PAT) volunteer at the Trust, with my Standard Poodle Max, in the spring of 2019, and up until lockdown the weekly visits we made to the Hospital had become a regular feature of our lives.  I am also a member of the Patient Information Readers’ Panel

As a volunteer, I’m fortunate to be able to witness first-hand the commitment, professionalism, determination and good humour of all the Trust’s staff, both medical and non-medical, as they go about their work under the most testing of circumstances. 

To be honest, I’m not the important one in this relationship.  I just hold the lead and carry the biscuits.  It’s Max that brings the magic. But while he’s doing his stuff,  I’m  fortunate to be able to witness the huge and positive impact that he, and of course the other PAT dogs, have on the hospital experience of patients, relatives, friends and staff.  This has convinced me of the enormous therapeutic benefit that such visits bring. For me it is a privilege to be able to work in the hospital, alongside such great people and, at the same time, support this fine Charity.