Webinar recording: Sharing from the frontline

Tags: Webinar, Case Study

29th March 2021

Heart

0 Likes

Develop Images Helpforce 109

In this recording, the volunteering service team at the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust shared the key challenges that they faced during the pandemic and how they overcame them, as well as lessons that they would like to carry forward.

In addition, two volunteers shared what it was like for them to volunteer during the peak of the pandemic, how they supported the Trust throughout and managed to raise £18,000 for the Trust.

Here is the summary of the webinar:

  • Like many others, the team stood down all their volunteers on 16 March 2020. However, they have been trying to maintain contact with them all during this time via newsletters and phone calls but it has been challenging.
  • Lots of staff engagement happened behind the scenes and have slowly started to bring back some volunteers, some successful but some have failed.
  • Volunteers sharing their experiences when supporting wards and felt that sometimes the tasks fell out of their remit, but in general, they enjoyed the experience with Marcy and the team's support
  • One of the volunteers shared her experience in setting virtual fundraising events, including the Virtual Half Marathon, which helped them raise £18,000 for the bereavement suite. For the Easter holiday coming, they will organise a Virtual Treasure Hunt which will include an Easter Bonnet competition. Each household is being asked to donate £10 and send in photos.
  • Over the last year there have been many highs and lows but on a positive note Covid has given them the opportunity to reset and rethink how they work and move volunteering forward. The Trusts executives are fully engaged with Marcy, the Volunteering service manager, and she has a mentor and coach as well as an executive sponsor. Clear and open lines of communication are important.
  • Before the first lockdown they had around 220 volunteers and have lost 30 to 40% of them. Many said they would like to return but after putting them through the risk assessment process more have been lost. They now have around 140 but the most active volunteers (30) are working in the vaccination hub.
    Marcy being the only member of her ‘team’ is desperate for some admin support so she has recently put a call out for a volunteer. She is also recruiting for Befriender roles and they have 4 non-covid wards that will have volunteers. There is an expectation that they will be able to have volunteers in covid wards.
    Have had 5-6 volunteers who have gone on to paid roles.
  • The discussion also spoke about using Whatssapp as a form of informal communications with volunteers and Trusts share their experience of using this platform.

You might also be interested in: