How a design sculptor found patience through volunteering

“For the first couple of years after I retired, it felt like bunking off school,” Garry reflects. “You keep thinking you should be at work — but then the novelty wears off, and you start asking, ‘What now?’”

After some quiet years at home, Garry realised he needed more than just leisure. He missed being part of a team and having a role that mattered. When he saw a call for hospital volunteers at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, one role immediately caught his eye — volunteering in Accident & Emergency.

“I didn’t want to work in a charity shop or walk dogs,” he says with a grin. “I fancied being in A&E. There’s always something happening — I like to be active. Otherwise, why am I there?”

Garry threw himself into the training, completing online courses, DBS checks, and safeguarding, before shadowing a fellow volunteer on his first shift.

“Alan showed me the ropes — after that, I just jumped straight in. Now I’m the one showing new volunteers around. Volunteers helping volunteers — that’s what I love about it.”

Spending three full days a week in Warwick Hospital’s busy A&E, Garry’s role might sound simple — making tea, offering refreshments, chatting with patients — but the difference he makes is profound.

“It’s about being there for people who might be frightened or lonely. Some want to talk, some don’t — you learn to read that. And because I’m not in uniform, they talk to me more freely.”

His presence eases anxiety and brings comfort in moments of stress.

He’s also deeply aware of the pressure on NHS staff, especially nurses, and is determined to lighten their load wherever he can.

“I told Denise, who runs the volunteers, that I wanted to be proactive — not someone who pops in for an hour. If I can save the nurses five minutes, it’s worth it.”

Garry quickly became part of the A&E family, known for his humour, energy, and unmistakable style.

“I refuse to wear those pink hi-vis vests that say, ‘Can I help you?’ I wear a smart red waistcoat instead. I like to look the part — like a hospital version of Manuel from Fawlty Towers.”

He even crafted his own custom tray to carry tea and snacks — “my artist’s tray,” he calls it — and treats the tea machine with the care of a luxury car. “I polish it, I look after it, I defend it from anyone else touching it!”

Amid the laughter and busy shifts, Garry experiences moments that remind him why he volunteers. “I’d been chatting with a patient — we were like two naughty schoolboys, laughing about nonsense. The next day, I found out he’d passed away that night. His wife wrote to thank the staff — and she mentioned me. Things like that really hit home. They remind you what it’s all about.”

The camaraderie with staff is something Garry treasures deeply. “The staff are phenomenal. They just get on with it, no matter how hard it gets. They made me feel part of the team from day one.”

He’s also taken on mentoring new volunteers, helping them find their place in the fast-paced, emotional environment.

“You can see people blossom once they find their place. It’s brilliant to watch.”

Volunteering has given Garry back what retirement took away — purpose, belonging, and fulfilment.

“It’s made me more patient. It’s taught me to listen. And it’s given me something that gets me up in the morning. It fulfils me — quite selfishly, but nicely.”

He tried other wards but found A&E was where he truly belonged. “There’s always something to do, someone to help.”

His message to anyone thinking about volunteering is simple: “If you’ve got time and something to offer — do it. You’ll get far more back than you give. You meet amazing people, you find purpose again, and you realise how much difference a cup of tea and a chat can make.”

Garry’s story is a powerful example of how volunteers bring more than just help — they bring heart, humanity, and hope to NHS teams and patients alike. Working alongside dedicated staff, volunteers like Garry transform care and lift morale, proving that volunteering is not just about giving out, but about growing together.

Inspired by tens and thousands of volunteers like Garry, 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.