“What I love the most is the community feel, being part of a team and to ultimately help our patients, visitors and staff”
Pat, who is 83 and a retired teacher -first of infants and then moving into a career of Special Needs teaching- has always enjoyed volunteering. In the past, she has been a part time Manager of Oxfam charity shops, and continues to volunteer at the Cancer Research shop in West Bridgford whilst volunteering at the Queen’s Medical Centre every Tuesday.
Pat volunteers at the hospital library as well as on the tram platforms. Her volunteering role involves delivering books to the wards, as well as carrying out day-to-day librarian duties, and helping visitors and patients to buy tram tickets, find their way around the city and make their visit that bit easier.
She says:
“It gets me out the house, helps me to meet new people and feel involved in something”.
She would encourage others who are looking to become part of a team, have some structure and routine to their weeks and give something back, to get involved.