Thank you to our Volunteers!

Thursday 5th December is National Volunteer Day and we are celebrating all our wonderful helpers who visit our homes to help. Many of them assist with activities and excursions from the home, enabling our care teams to continue to support other residents in our homes.

One special group of volunteers from Chiswick House in Norwich joined residents and carers from Chiswick  for afternoon tea. The home on Christchurch Road in Norwich has welcomed volunteers at the home for many years.

Three volunteers were thanked for their support with flowers and an afternoon tea at The Assembly House in Norwich, joined by residents from the home.

Bee is a student from Norwich High School for Girls which is situated opposite the care home. She has been visiting the home once a week for just over a year. Initially, she spent her time visiting residents for a chat. More recently she has been reading to residents on a number of subjects. One particular resident felt he wanted to learn more about the Philippines, as the home has a number of staff from there including a chef, who recently joined the home and prepared a special meal for Bee and the residents to celebrate his country and its heritage. The residents enjoyed this so much, that they are now reading about Kenya as the home has a carer from the African nation.

Gill Hulme has been a long-standing volunteer who started volunteering at the home as her mother was a resident. During the Covid pandemic, she decided that for her to still have the much-needed contact with her mother and to help the staff and residents, she signed up to be an activity volunteer. Sadly, her mother has since passed away, but Gill is still giving her time at the home, helping with Bingo and games sessions and assisting with excursions from the home. Due to her teaching experience, Gill really enjoys chatting with the residents about their interests and is able to pop into the home to support the staff.

Dawn Power is an ex-staff member who retired after working for many years at Chiswick House. While enjoying her retirement, she continues to visit the home and is always ready to help if able, especially on the excursions.

Kate Moore is the Activities Coordinator at Chiswick House: “Without the help of the volunteers, many of the day trips out from the home just would not happen. Having a few extra pairs of hands means that the carers at the home can continue to support the residents while others enjoy an excursion. The relationship between our volunteers and residents is lovely, they have developed special friendships with them and we’re very grateful for their support.”