Local residents across Norfolk and Waveney are invited to special volunteering “Wellfest” events to celebrate the difference voluntary activity makes across health and social care this October.

Local volunteering teams from both the voluntary sector and health and social care organisations will be on hand to give members of the public the opportunity to celebrate the work of their volunteers, while also hearing what it’s really like to get involved and the benefits they gain from volunteering.

Local volunteers will share how the skills gained during their previous careers have been put to good use to support patients who arrive at hospital as well as hearing how volunteering has improved confidence and support back to paid employment.

Volunteering can take many forms and many people are surprised about the range of activities local people undertake to help out. Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations from across Norfolk and Waveney have been instrumental in creating innovative ways of supporting volunteer recruitment and training, making volunteering easier to access. Roles vary from patient facing roles in a busy hospital environment to new initiative digital roles which can be carried out entirely online.

These events will feature interactive stands and displays with opportunities to speak to current volunteers about what they do in their own words, meet local Pets As Therapy dogs or even take up the opportunity of having a therapeutic hand massage.

These events will be held on:

• Thursday 12 October at Norwich Quaker Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW
• Tuesday 17 October at Duke’s Head Hotel, 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn PE30 1JS

These events have been jointly organised in collaboration with NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, Voluntary Norfolk and Community Action Norfolk.

Rik Martin, CEO at Community Action said: “Community Action Norfolk (CAN) are delighted to support the volunteering “Wellfest” events taking place this October in King’s Lynn and Norwich. We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to work with NHS Norfolk and Waveney, Voluntary Norfolk and other local, community and faith groups to celebrate the difference volunteering activity in our communities makes across health and social care.”   

Jules Alderson, Workforce Transformation Volunteering Programme Manager at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said: “Volunteers are the life blood of our communities who play such a valuable role in supporting our local communities and their hard work and commitment is very much appreciated. We hope these events provide an opportunity to reflect and say ‘thank you’ to all volunteers across Norfolk and Waveney as they continue to support our health and social care organisations.

“We also hope these events will spur others into action, to find out more about the benefits of volunteering and how they can get involved and support.”

The public events will start at 11am until 2pm and all are welcome.

For more information about these events, please visit: https://improvinglivesnw.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/ or contact Jules at: nwicb.workforce@nhs.net

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