Celebrating Volunteers’ Week at Gartnavel Royal Hospital

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) marked Volunteers’ Week this June by celebrating the people who give their time, compassion and energy to support patients, visitors and staff as part of Gartnavel Royal Hospital’s volunteers and creatives programme, Art in the Gart.

Whether they are serving in the Hub Café, looking after the gardens and growing spaces, playing at concerts or spending time with patients, the volunteers complement the work of our staff.

Our three short videos illustrate some of the activity on offer thanks to the volunteers who help to run the Hub Café, play music or keep the hospital gardens beautiful.

Susie, a café volunteer, said: “It is lovely catching up and having interactions with staff and patients. It is a small café but it is very important to the people that use it, as it gives patients and relatives a nice space to come during visiting hours.”

The Sessions, which is a music group and includes NHS staff, provides concerts at lunchtimes in the Hub, and they are well received by both patients and staff.

Ian, one of the music volunteers who plays with The Sessions, also works for the NHS. He said: “We play some songs for the patients for about 30 to 45 minutes at lunchtime. Within a few minutes the audience is all singing along. I think the music gives them a lift. It gives me a lift, too. I go back to work with a spring in my step.”

Volunteers also work to maintain the beautiful gardens at Gartnavel Royal Hospital, encouraging patients to take part and gain benefits from the therapeutic powers of gardening and being outdoors.

Paul has volunteered with the @artinthegart gardening group for nine years after being referred as a patient. He said: “It is a garden for the patients but is open to and used by local people, staff and visitors. Patients love to come to the garden, dig and get dirty and have a chat. I really benefited from working outside in the garden and have learned so much from the gardeners. I love it.”

Fiona Sinclair, our HSCP’s Voluntary Services Manager for Art in the Gart, said: “The volunteers are a positive presence across our services, and their contribution makes a real difference to the experience of patients, visitors and staff alike.

“Volunteers come from all walks of life and bring with them a wide range of experiences, skills and motivations. Some are looking to give something back to their community, others are gaining experience at the start of their careers and many are simply driven by a desire to help others.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers for their dedication and commitment.” 

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at Gartnavel can contact Fiona at Fiona.Sinclair13@nhs.scot. You can also see other volunteering opportunities on the NHSGGC website.