Birmingham hospital charity celebrates its superstar volunteers during Volunteers’ Week

“Seeing the difference a small act of kindness can make in someone’s day is truly rewarding.”

Volunteers’ Week 2025 takes place from 2 – 8 June and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Heartlands Hospital Charity, Good Hope Hospital Charity and Solihull Hospital Charity are celebrating their amazing volunteers and saying thank you for their support.

Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign to recognise the contribution of volunteers and celebrate the spirit of volunteering that enriches communities each year. It’s a fantastic way to build your confidence, pick up new and transferrable skills, and meet like-minded people.

Saniya Ifteqar, a volunteer for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said, “Volunteering for the hospital charity has been a truly enriching experience for me. What I enjoy most is the opportunity to connect with people – whether it’s patients, families or staff – and to be part of a compassionate environment where every small act of kindness can make a real difference. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my time and support can bring comfort to someone going through a difficult time. Seeing the difference a small act of kindness can make in someone’s day is truly rewarding.”

By volunteering for your hospital charity, you can help make a real difference to patients, their families and staff at your local hospital. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Heartlands Hospital Charity, Good Hope Hospital Charity and Solihull Hospital Charity are always on the lookout for reliable and enthusiastic volunteers to join the team. There are a wide range of exciting events and activities to take part in, including helping in the Charity Hubs at the hospital sites, taking part in bucket collections and awareness stands or volunteering with your dog for the Pets in Hospital programme.

The hospital charity is currently looking to recruit four-legged volunteers and their owners for its Pets in Hospital scheme specifically at Good Hope Hospital. This involves specially assessed dogs visiting patients and staff, helping to reduce anxiety and bring some joy to wards and departments. Lloyd the Golden Retriever visits patients and staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with his owner, Sarah. Sarah said, “There is genuine enjoyment seeing Lloyd ‘at work’ – though it’s hard to justify the term ‘work’ when one hears and sees the obvious pleasure his greetings bring to the patients and staff alike. It’s terrific that we are able to share this character filled Goldie with others here at the hospital.”

Gemma Hackett, Volunteer Co-Ordinator for the Charity said, “During Volunteers’ Week we want to say a big thank you to our amazing volunteers who give up their time to support us. The week is about celebrating them and the contributions they make to the hospital charity and their local community. Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to your local hospital and we are always keen to welcome new faces to our team!”

For more information about volunteering for the hospital charity, email: charities@uhb.nhs.uk or visit our volunteers page.