Katy - volunteer with High Wycombe Shopmobility

Colin volunteers as a hospital car driver as well as a trustee for Community Care North Bucks - two roles which he says have helped him to build communication skills and empathy. How did you find out about the roles? I registered with the Volunteer Matching Service at the beginning of the pandemic and found roles with a couple of charities. I still had time to offer so, when the Volunteer Matching Service’s weekly email referred to a driving role taking patients to hospital, I put my hand up and joined the Hospital Car Service which operates under Community Care North Bucks. The following year I was invited to join the Board of trustees. The Hospital Car Service has also won the Proud of Bucks Award for Best Community Group in the Buckingham and Villages Community Impact Board category, and Community Care North Bucks was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018. What are your volunteer roles and what do they involve? I drive patients, who have been referred to us by their GP in North Bucks, to and from hospital appointments one or two times a week. Volunteer drivers pick the patients up from their home, take them to their hospital appointments and then take them home again. They are my favourite couple of hours in the week – I can honestly say I get far more out of volunteering than I put in. In the trustee role, I help with organisational skills to run the organisation effectively, and the discipline around governance and compliance. Why do you volunteer? Covid taught us the importance of local community, and to help people. For me, volunteering is about the connections you make with people, and in providing much-needed community services. What attracted you to these roles? The driver’s role provided flexibility as volunteers choose what the levels of commitment and travel distances. It doesn’t matter how old you are or your background, you can get involved. It’s delivered by the community, for the community. The trustee role allows me to transfer my skills and experience. I had built up a lot of skills in my corporate background that I could bring to the role, particularly business skills – specifically IT and accountancy – as well as financial discipline and skills around motivating people which has always been a passion at work. It’s an exciting time of development and growth for the charity, looking at the future strategy and how we can expand the services we offer and fundraise to meet the high demand. The roles mean I volunteer with people who are passionate: there is no lack of enthusiasm. Have you found anything surprising about the roles? I wasn’t expecting to get as much out of volunteering – the sense of worth and the feeling that I truly get out more than I give. I have really enjoyed the time I have been volunteering in these roles, and others, since I started volunteering four years ago. What skills have you developed since joining the organisation? Communication and empathy. When picking up a passenger, I might be the first person they have spoken to all week and these skills really come into play. I have also learned, through training, about safeguarding potentially vulnerable people – how to spot the signs and respond to them. What difference does your volunteering make to others? We connect with people. This is not just a taxi service – we take people to appointments, wait for them until they finish, and return them home. We chat with them in the car and it’s lovely to connect on a human level, share stories and histories, particularly during a time that’s potentially not very pleasant for the patient. Would you recommend volunteering and, if so, why? Absolutely – it’s great to give back and do something positive. However small the contribution, you are making a difference and it’s a great thing. As long as I am fit and able, I want to carry on volunteering. Additional information: To find out more about Community Care North Bucks and the services on offer, visit the Community Care North Bucks website. If you need help getting to an appointment, please phone the Transport Hub on 0800 085 8480. If you are interested in setting up a Community Transport Scheme , find out how Community Impact Bucks can support you by visiting the Community Transport webpage. December 2023

Malcolm was a volunteer for the annual residential sports event where young people have an opportunity to try a variety of wheelchair sports. What is your volunteer role and what does this involve you doing? I volunteered for the WheelPower National Games in June 2023. The annual event provides children with disabilities to try a variety of sports and my role was to support the coaches and children. Over the two days that I volunteered, I assisted with Badminton, Boccia, Hand Cycling and Tennis. This involved collecting tennis balls, helping children into and out of the hand cycle and fixing chains, throwing, hitting shuttlecocks for the children to hit, and helping them to use the racket to hit the shuttlecocks. Why do you volunteer? I have always volunteered when I can. I volunteer as a team member for the Volunteer Matching Service – matching other volunteers – and enjoy talking to some great people who are willing to give up their time for others. I see a lot of volunteer opportunities through my role at the Volunteer Matching Service and the WheelPower National Junior Games caught my interest, so I offered to help. I had previously volunteered as a marshal with WheelPower for the Tour De Vale Cycle ride earlier in the month and had a very positive experience. What attracted you to this role? I have always had an interest in sports and once volunteered as a youth leader when I trained children in track events. I thought I would enjoy and be able to bring something to the role. What are the best bits about volunteering in this role? The energy and willingness of the children to take part, especially the smiles and laughter from them as they succeeded and improved in the events. Are there any challenging aspects to this role? It was a physical and tiring couple of days, but well worth it to see the joy on their faces. What do you gain personally or professionally from volunteering? The satisfaction that I made a difference to a number of children, enabling them to take part and meet their goals. It was great to see the energy and joy of those taking part. Would you recommend volunteering and, if so, why? I have volunteered in a number of roles during my life – some short term, some long term and some very exacting (Chair of Governors for a school for 12 years.) I have always felt that I have learnt from these experiences and that it has helped me to understand others better. Further information: To find out more about WheelPower and the National Junior Games, visit the WheelPower website .

Volunteering at her local GP Surgery, Julia provides administrative support. She says this means she builds her knowledge and experience and has fun while being helpful and making a difference. What is your role? I volunteer 4 hours a week at a GP Practice, doing a range of office and admin duties. I wanted to do anything that was needed to help with the post-Covid recovery of the NHS and, when I heard about this role from the Volunteer Matching Service, I liked the idea it was just one regular session a week and in a small setting as it would make it easy for me to find my feet and get to know the team. What does the role entail? I phone patients to invite them in for flu vaccinations and book them in on the computerised appointment system. Similarly, I’ve been booking in patients for men’s health checks and routine blood pressure checks. Other tasks include filing, copying and other general office work. Did you have training? Yes, it has mostly been task-based training as I go along, which was good from my point of view as it meant I was doing something useful from the start. The Practice Manager has been very supportive, and I am definitely more confident with my IT skills now. What difference are you making to the Practice? I have been able to help with areas of work that the surgery staff don’t always have time to do because of their high workload. I am just so glad I have been able to help. What difference has voluntering made to you? Family priorities have meant I’ve not been in a workplace for a while now and I felt a bit out of practice at first, but it has been good to embrace new challenges. I have expanded my computer skills. One of the things I have most enjoyed has been phoning patients. It has given me a sense of achievement. I find it rewarding and interesting, and I enjoy talking to the patients. It’s good fun, I’m building on my skills and experience, while being helpful and making a difference to the team. Would you recommend volunteering in this type of role? I have got a lot from volunteering, so yes – it is a really good thing to do