Pennine Care receives volunteering award

Volunteers accept their award: (left to right) Chairman John Schofield, Tony Wardle, Paul Gormley, Johnny Barlow, Jack Grimshaw, Colin McKinless, Jim Gosney, Michael Garside, Allison Byrne, Lillian Yates, Karen Byrne, Janet Hinkley.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (Pennine Care) has received recognition for how it involves volunteers in its services.

Led by the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), the Trust achieved the national Investing in Volunteering Certificate from Volunteering England after taking part in a robust assessment. This involved an approved assessor visiting services and speaking with staff and volunteers to ensure that high standards of volunteer management were met.

Pennine Care provides community and mental health services in the Rochdale borough, Bury and Oldham, as well as mental health services in Stockport, Tameside and Glossop.

Volunteers are enhancing the experiences of patients and carers by providing invaluable life experiences and a wide range of skills and knowledge. There are 60 volunteers providing around 14,000 hours of support each year.

PALS Manager, Lillian Yates, said: “The volunteer service brings service users and carers into the Trust as volunteers to enhance the services we provide, with the hope that they go on to further training or employment.

“Volunteers say volunteering has developed their self esteem, confidence, given them a greater understanding of people and their varying needs and taught them new skills. For some people it has been a life changing experience and some volunteers are now looking to pursue careers within our services gaining paid employment in our Trust.”

If you would like more information about volunteering for Pennine Care, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0161 716 3178.