Five Hospitals

Maudsley Shop. Photo by Sharon Shahani www.pickindaisies.org

As part of the Time for Health's Reaching Out grants programme, five projects in South London received funding to develop activities aimed at broadening the volunteer base by targeting Hard to Reach Groups.
Particularly BME, Young people and people without qualifications.
British Red Cross "Home from Hospital" service (Tooting and Croydon)
CSV "Count me in at Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup
Ronald McDonald House (Tooting)
WRVS shop, Maudsley Hospital
Barnes Hospital Young League of Friends
The five projects were subject to the standard evaluation reporting procedures and that information has been reported in a previous document. This paper describes the content of the projects in more detail, and provides some specific examples of publicity information, policies and case studies, as well as some feedback from volunteers themselves.

British Red Cross Home from Hospital Service

1. Summary and key aims
The BRC have 5 of these schemes operating in London. They offer practical and emotional assistance to vulnerable people being discharged from hospital who do not have friends or family locally to help them while they recover and regain some independence. 95% of the client group are aged between 65 and 105.
In addition to the core aim of targeting Hard to Reach volunteers the project aimed to:
Offer training to new volunteers quickly
Build partnerships with local colleges
Provide better support to volunteers
2. Key tasks undertaken
Adapted recruitment materials to reflect diverse range of volunteers
Set up partnership with Croydon College
Researched local groups to ensure project recruiting from whole community
Pilot scheme ran to test training methods and prepare for new intake of volunteers
Held recruitment talks and ran taster days
Ran focus group with volunteers to obtain feedback
3. Sample volunteer activity
Shadowing of existing paid workers
Training in range of skills / subjects including Basic Social Care Skills, Emergency
Life Support and the Principles of Red Cross and International Humanitarian Law
Visiting clients in their home - befriending
Shopping/ collecting prescriptions and pensions
Help with preparing food and eating
Assistance with form filling and bill payment
Accompanying on hospital visits / GP appointments
Supporting relatives
4. Comments from Volunteers
This has given me the confidence to study for my NVQ in Care Management
It has been a great experience for me as an immigrant - I have learned a lot about how society works here
Volunteering with this project has given me an insight into human nature
I love it. Every day is different!
5. Additional outcomes / learning
More face to face contact with clients (rather than telephone contact)
A positive example of successful intergenerational activity
Team spirit developed amongst volunteers who previously had little opportunity to come together
Agreement that paid staff in BRC to be provided with diversity training

CSV 'Count me in'

1. Summary and key aims
CSV run a wider project aimed at enhancing and supporting the involvement of younger volunteers in all aspects of healthcare provided by the NHS Hospital Trust at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. This includes piloting models for involving younger people as volunteers that can be replicated across NHS Hospital Trusts
The Reaching Out project focused on a pilot called FIT4Future - which aimed to improve the experience of patients and visitors and decrease the negativity of patients and staff during mealtimes on the wards.
2. Key tasks undertaken
Questionnaire designed to find out why patients were not eating their meals
Designed interactive training for volunteers on communication, privacy and dignity as well as how to assist or feed a patient.
Involving volunteers in steering group set up to monitor progress of project
Collected feedback from staff and patients about the impact of using volunteers
3. Sample Volunteer activity
Assisting patients and staff in completing questionnaires
Prepare themselves and patient for mealtimes
Hands on help to patients with cutting up food, opening packets, and eating
Befriending
4. Additional outcomes/ learning
A positive acknowledgement of the contribution volunteers can make by the nursing staff
Thank you events held by Trust and attended by Chief Executive and Board
members
The Trust will fund further rounds of training for volunteers in this area.

Ronald McDonald House - Tooting

1. Summary and Key aims
There are several of these houses across the country, providing accommodation and support for the families of children in hospital and hospices. Some of them use volunteers but at St Georges Hospital, Tooting, there has never been any formal volunteering structure to support them.
This project aimed to set up an inclusive volunteering structure, recruit volunteers and provide a range of opportunities including setting up a fundraising committee to take a lead role in fundraising activities for the house.
2. Key tasks undertaken
Prepared role descriptions for a range of opportunities
Volunteer Handbook produced
Designed publicity material to promote the scheme
Held open days and taster sessions
Provided/planned training in basic counselling skills and fundraising
3. Sample volunteer activity
Participating in fundraising committee
Organised events eg open day
Provided admin support
Garden maintenance and fence painting
Ironing and other household tasks
Re designed publicity material to make it more attractive to young volunteers
4. Additional outcomes/learning
Established good working relationship with NHS VSM who is now processing
application forms, meeting volunteers and carrying out CRB checks.
Enabled House Manager to devote more time to developing the service to families as volunteers have picked up other tasks.
Fundraising training to be rolled out to other houses later in the year

WRVS, Maudsley Hospital Shop Volunteer Development

1. Summary and key aims
This project was based on developing volunteer contribution at the WRVS shop at Maudsley Hospital by extending the opening hours from 2 to 5 days a week . Co- ordinated by the Volunteering and shop manager it offered an opportunity for people who wished to gain experience in retail and/or work with mentally ill patients. The project would also extend its reach by adding a Trolley Shop service to serve patients on closed wards.
2. Key tasks undertaken
Recruitment and Induction of project manager
Questionnaire to patients/staff regarding current service
Role descriptions written for volunteers
Volunteer recruitment and training
Monthly support meetings for volunteers
Shop painting and refurbishment begun
3. Sample Volunteer activity
Serving in the shop
Ordering and replenishing stock
Completing orders taken on the wards
Establishing positive relationships with service users
Drafting of publicity to promote shop opening times and volunteering
opportunities
4. Comments from volunteers on reasons for volunteering
To keep occupied after illness
To gain experience before going on to study
To meet people and make a positive contribution
On most rewarding aspects
Meeting new people
Learning new things
Getting a different perspective on life
5. Additional outcomes / learning
Rather than being thwarted by Health and safety considerations relating to a trolley service, a new way of providing a shop service on the closed wards was devised and introduced. The money saved enabled further refurbishment of the shop.

Barnes Hospital young League of Friends.

This project did not go ahead.