How a bereaved engineer found purpose in volunteering

A lifelong Leamington resident, Dave’s career spanned automotive engineering, where precision and collaboration were everyday essentials. But it was the loss of his wife in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that brought him to a crossroads.

“I couldn’t stand being at home talking to the four walls,” Dave shares. “I needed to get out, to talk to people again.”

When the NHS called for volunteers to support the pandemic response, David answered. Though Warwick Hospital had temporarily paused volunteer activities, Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital was open — and that’s where Dave’s volunteering story took off.

His first role was vital and urgent: distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) made by community members to care homes across Warwickshire.

“We’d drive around empty roads, delivering PPE to those who needed it most. It felt like we were really making a difference.”

As hospital doors reopened, Dave joined the Meet & Greet team, supporting patients at vaccination clinics and helping those with mobility challenges navigate safely through queues.

“Everyone was nervous, but there was such a sense of teamwork and purpose.”

Today, Dave splits his time between Warwick Hospital and the Kissing It Better charity, an intergenerational project connecting school pupils with hospital patients through creative activities and conversation.

At Warwick, his roles include:

• Welcoming visitors and assisting patients at the hospital entrance

• Mentoring young volunteers through Kissing It Better

• Supporting falls prevention by working alongside specialist staff to monitor safety equipment

“It’s not about catching people out,” Dave explains. “It’s about educating staff, keeping patients safe, and making the hospital a better place.”

His kindness extends beyond these roles — whether pushing wheelchairs, calming anxious visitors, or simply offering a reassuring smile.

“You calm people down, help them find where they’re going, and suddenly it’s a different atmosphere.”

Dave’s dedication was recognised by the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, a proud moment reflecting the impact of his service. Yet, for Dave, the real reward is in the everyday moments — helping a lost patient, seeing a young volunteer gain confidence, or sharing a smile.

Volunteering has also helped Dave overcome isolation and find renewed purpose.

“You come home feeling better about life. You’re doing something useful, helping others, and filling your day with meaning.”

Looking ahead, Dave is open to new ways to support the hospital — from patient surveys to helping speed up discharges.

“The hospital’s always changing, and it’s great to be part of that.”

To anyone considering volunteering, Dave offers this encouragement:

“Go for it. You’ve got to have empathy, patience, and understanding. But if you’ve got that, you’ll get so much back. You’re making a real difference — to others and to yourself.”

Dave’s story is a powerful example of how volunteering not only supports NHS services but also rebuilds lives and communities — showing that compassion and connection are as vital as clinical care. Working alongside dedicated volunteers like Dave, we can transform care together.

Inspired by tens and thousands of volunteers like Dave, 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.