Claire Ashton – Hospital EDI Volunteer and Patient Discharge Driver

Claire Ashton, 74, has led a life of public service and resilience. Born in June 1951 in Wigan, Lancashire, Claire now lives in Shrewsbury and volunteers for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust. Her career path has been as varied as it has been impactful:

Armed Forces – her first career gave her structure, discipline, and a strong sense of teamwork.

Police Officer – she then served in law enforcement, where she deepened her skills in community service and problem-solving.

Specialist Taxi Operator – later, she ran her own business providing transport for people with special needs, often wheelchair users or children with disabilities.

Her compassion often extended beyond business:

“I suppose I did a bit of volunteering even then… I’d take a family with special needs out for the day and not charge them.”

This spirit of giving would later become a defining theme in her life.

First Steps into Volunteering

Claire’s first formal volunteering role was on a tall ship, where a trip with her sister turned into a life-changing experience:

“I enjoyed it so much I signed up for another one… then I was asked to become a volunteer, basically doing all the hard work.”

Her natural leadership qualities soon came through. She progressed from crew volunteer to watch leader, responsible for managing 16 volunteers at a time, and later became an assistant engineer:

“I was helping with all the equipment — engines, generators… it was wonderful.

For Claire, volunteering on the ship was both freedom and fulfilment:

“I just loved it. I felt free and really enjoyed it. It was the only way I could do it without paying for it.”

This experience gave her a lasting belief in the two-way nature of volunteering:

“All volunteers do it as a two-way street. Yes, you give something to the community, but you also get a lot back.”

Current Volunteering Role

Today, Claire brings that same energy and commitment into the NHS as part of a hospital Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) panel.

It began when she was invited to join a focus group at her local hospital just over a year ago:

“I was approached by somebody in the NHS to help with a focus group… we looked at hospital policies and initiatives to make sure none of the nine protected characteristics were sidelined.”

What started as a one-off panel became a regular commitment. After a few meetings, she was told she would need to become an official volunteer to continue:

“They said, ‘Well, you’ve got to become checked out and everything to carry on doing this.’ I just said, ‘Where do I sign?’”

Following her training Claire started doing meet and greets at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. She said “it was hard work, I’d be doing 22,000 steps a shift – but within three days in the new role I’d learned the whole hospital.”

“Now I’ve progressed to being a patient discharge driver. I make sure people get home safely and that the heating, lights and water are working – I have to know they’ll be okay once I leave.”

Motivation

Claire’s drive has always been rooted in fairness, inclusion, and service:

From her time in the military and police, she values discipline and responsibility. Through her taxi business, she developed deep empathy for people with special needs. On the tall ships, she found freedom, community, and purpose. Today, she channels all of that into ensuring healthcare is fair and accessible for everyone:

“I wanted to make sure that hospital policies didn’t side-line anybody. People walking through the hospital doors are already having a bad day. If I can make it even slightly better for them, that’s a good thing – that’s what keeps me doing it.”

Support & Experience

Claire credits the hospital’s volunteer system with giving her structure and legitimacy. Formal training & checks gave her confidence in her role. Focus groups provided a platform where her voice was heard and valued. Belonging to the volunteer community reinforced her sense of purpose. She thrives on contributing her lived experience to improve healthcare policy:

“It’s about using your own background to make sure things are done properly.”

Highlights of Her Volunteering Journey

• Being trusted to represent patient and community perspectives in hospital policy.

• Feeling valued — that her voice and experience genuinely shape change.

• Maintaining purpose in retirement — continuing a lifelong theme of service.

What She Has Gained Personally

For Claire, volunteering has been transformative across her whole life:

• Freedom & joy from her early sea volunteering.

• Community & leadership from managing crews.

• Fulfilment & purpose from contributing to hospital EDI today.

“It’s a two-way street… you give, but you also get so much back. You do feel better in yourself when you volunteer – I’d stop if I didn’t enjoy it. It’s all a highlight – there are no lowlights. Talking to people from all backgrounds, including those whose first language isn’t English, has definitely helped me learn new skills. You learn a lot doing this.”

Advice to Others

Claire is clear and encouraging:

“If you’re thinking about volunteering — do it. Don’t wait. You’ll be surprised how much you get back in return. The volunteer-to-career scheme is great. Some people start like I did, just to get a taste – and then go on to train for a career in the NHS.”

Why Claire’s Story Matters

Claire’s story shows the breadth of what volunteering can mean — from adventure and leadership at sea to compassion and inclusion in healthcare. It reinforces the campaign’s core message: volunteering is not just a ‘nice to have’ but a vital part of society and healthcare, benefitting both patients and volunteers themselves.

Inspired by tens and thousands of volunteers like Claire, 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.