Angela Daulby – From Retirement to Rediscovering Purpose through Volunteering

Discovering Volunteering

Angela’s journey began almost by chance. One morning, while listening to Chris Evans on the radio, she heard about Helpforce, an organisation working to connect volunteers with roles in the NHS. The commitment was modest – just four hours a week for twelve months. For Angela, about to step into retirement, that sounded more than manageable:

 “I thought, if I can’t find four hours a week in my now completely free calendar, then there’s something wrong with me!”

She signed up – and after a short wait, was placed at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, just three miles from her home on the outskirts of Liverpool. Initially, she worried about the fit: Angela and her husband, Brian, don’t have children, so she wondered whether she’d connect with the hospital’s environment. But those doubts disappeared as soon as she walked through the doors:

“The moment I walked into Alder Hey, I knew it was the right place for me.”

From that point on, she never looked back.

Motivation and Family Influence

Angela always had an interest in voluntary work, but nothing fixed in her mind. Her husband Brian had long been involved in museum volunteering, but Angela wanted something that was hers. She had already been serving as a school governor and chairing the finance committee at a local primary school, as well as volunteering with the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, where she worked in the galley on board a restored historic steamship.

But the hospital gave her something different: a sense of purpose and contribution, without the weight of formal responsibility.

“I wanted something a little less responsible than being a school governor, something where I could just give back, meet people, and be useful.”

Progression at Alder Hey

Angela’s first role was simple but important – meeting and greeting visitors, helping families navigate the often overwhelming hospital environment. But within months, everything changed.

When COVID-19 struck in early 2020, volunteers were initially asked to step back . But Angela was quickly invited back in – considered low-risk and badly needed. Her role expanded dramatically.

She found herself on the front line of infection control, encouraging families to use hand gel, wear masks, and follow safety measures. Unlike many hospitals for this role, Alder Hey deliberately chose volunteers:

“So it was the volunteers who were the face of those rules. Security was there if needed, but it was us who spoke to parents and children. It was about being approachable and kind.”

Angela also helped prepare care packages for NHS staff, filled with toiletries, tea, coffee, and small comforts donated by local organisations. She recalls how much these small tokens meant to the staff during those anxious, exhausting days:

“Every member of staff got a package. It was a simple thing, but the appreciation was huge.”

As the hospital adapted, so did Angela. She moved into supporting the volunteering team directly, helping with recruitment, training, and data management. With her project management and finance background, she became invaluable behind the scenes: maintaining databases, producing statistics, and supporting new volunteers.

Her progression from greeter to integral member of the volunteer coordination team reflects both her adaptability and her determination to give where she was needed most.

Highlights of the Journey

Looking back, Angela finds it hard to pick one highlight. For her, the joy has been in the everyday human connections – the conversations, the laughter, the simple act of helping someone feel less lost in a hospital corridor.

But one moment stands out: when Alder Hey’s volunteer team was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest recognition for groups of volunteers in the UK.

“It was like the MBE of volunteering. We all felt so proud. Some of our volunteers were invited to Buckingham Palace for the garden party, and the Sheriff of Liverpool came to present the award at the hospital. It was such a special day – coffee, cake, and a real sense of achievement.”

Personal Impact

For Angela, volunteering has been as transformative for her personally as it has been impactful for the hospital.

 “It gives you that warm feeling – knowing you’re doing something good, giving back to the community. It’s stopped me from vegetating at home. It’s given me new friends, new conversations, and a sense of belonging.”

During the pandemic, she believes volunteering quite literally saved her:

“During COVID, it saved me. It gave me purpose, routine, and the feeling that I was helping, even if it was in small ways.”

The hospital also ensured volunteers had access to the same wellbeing resources as staff, including discounts, support systems, and mental health services. That inclusion reinforced for Angela that volunteers weren’t an “add-on,” but truly part of the team.

Future Aspirations and Reflections

Angela continues to balance her volunteering with caring for her elderly parents, both now in their 90s. The flexibility of volunteering has been crucial:

 “The team are so supportive – they just say, come when you can, don’t come when you can’t. Family comes first. That’s the beauty of volunteering.”

Her advice to others is simple:

“Volunteering isn’t for everyone – but you don’t know until you try. And if it is for you, it can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.”

On the Campaign – Recognising Volunteers as Integral to Healthcare

Angela strongly supports the campaign’s aim to shift the perception of volunteers from “nice-to-have” to integral:

 “At Alder Hey, we never take work away from staff – we support them. Whether it’s restocking supplies so nurses don’t have to, or cleaning consultation rooms so doctors can see the next patient, it’s all about making their day easier. That way, they can focus on what they’re trained to do. Volunteers add value. We help make the hospital run smoother.”

For Angela, volunteering has been more than giving back – it has been about rediscovering herself, her purpose, and her place in the community. Retirement may have closed one chapter, but at Alder Hey, Angela found another – one filled with meaning, connection, and pride.

Inspired by tens and thousands of volunteers like Angela, who wish to volunteer for the NHS to give back, Helpforce has launched a three-year campaign 'Giving Back, Transforming Care' to inspire national conversations, foster deeper public engagement, and shift perceptions of healthcare volunteering from a 'nice to have' to a strategic imperative. Learn more about this ambitious campaign here.