King’s volunteers come from all walks of life and are a true representation of the diverse communities that we serve. We currently have over 600 volunteers aged between 16 and 80+ who support our hospitals in a range of roles, including ward befrienders, end-of-life companions, and the ever-popular Pets As Therapy (PAT) dogs.
“During a 3 week stay on Lister Ward, I benefited greatly from the wonderful volunteers on the ward. There was a mixture of all age groups, and each one was a breath of fresh air. I especially appreciated the many cups of tea they made me, in my own big mug, just to my liking.
“There was even a volunteer hairdresser, who amazingly was able to wash and trim my hair in spite of me being totally bed bound and immobile due to my serious injuries. This was a huge morale boost, and as beneficial as any number of tablets!”
During the 2019/20 financial year, King’s volunteers supported patients in 148,538 instances and gave 34,950 hours of their time. And when COVID-19 hit, they played an integral role in supporting both patients and staff.