Feel happier - and make a difference to people’s lives by volunteering for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust
Would you like to feel happier, be part of a team and learn new skills? If so, it’s not as difficult to achieve as you might think.
Here, Donna Lee-Willis, head of community fundraising at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, talks about how doing one simple thing could have a big impact on your life – volunteering!
“I’ve been working with volunteers for years and people get involved for all kinds of reasons. “The younger generation tend to do it because it helps with their CV and university applications. For retired people, it can be because all of a sudden, they’ve gone from having these incredibly busy lives to being retired with a lot of free time to give. Others might be former patients who are just really grateful for the care they have received.
“They’re not always in a position to donate money but they can give us their time, which is invaluable to us.
“Volunteering gives so much to people; everything from meeting new people to creating a sense of community to improving self-esteem, having fun and feeling more fulfilled.”
As for their importance within the organisation, Donna says: “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our volunteers. They are very much part of the ACT team. If we didn’t have volunteers we wouldn’t be able to support our fundraisers and all our events in the way that we do.”
Anyone volunteering to help Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) has the added feel-good factor of knowing that their time and energy goes directly towards making other people’s lives better.
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, and money raised by its supporters help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
Duncan Rodgers and his wife, Judy, are both volunteers. Duncan volunteered as a community ambassador for ACT after being treated at Addenbrooke’s for stage 3 bowel cancer seven years ago.
Duncan, who has since been given the all-clear, says: “The great thing is that the hospital is known and loved throughout the area, all the lovely people I meet have their own stories and reasons to help. We all know that Addenbrooke’s is an excellent hospital, but that there is always more that can be done as demand increases and medical science progresses.
“That’s where I think ACT is so vital – when the staff in the hospital identify an extra need, or a new initiative, they know that there is a charity on site which they can instantly turn to for help.
“My wife and I are both now excited by the major plans ahead for a cancer hospital and children’s hospital.
“There is certainly much fundraising to do and volunteering for ACT is not only enjoyable, but gives you the satisfaction of seeing a worthwhile end-product, which really can help change people’s lives for the better – as the hospital did for us. That’s very motivating!”
Volunteers give as much time as they are able – anything from helping at a big event once a year to helping out regularly - and are matched to their skillset and interests.
As far as the type of person they want as a volunteer, Donna says they are looking for just one thing - “Anyone with a big heart and some time to give!”
If you would like to make a difference to peoples' lives and volunteer for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, please contact us at volunteer@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.
