Volunteers Week 2026 | Thank You to Our Health Board Volunteers

29th May 2026

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has around 500 dedicated volunteers who support colleagues, patients and visitors in a variety of ways, day in, day out. 

This week marks Volunteers’ Week, a time to thank volunteers for their hard work and recognise the invaluable impact they have on patient care. 

There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities across the health board, from welcoming patients on arrival at hospital and chatting with them during their stay, to supporting arts, crafts and music sessions. 

Volunteers give their time, whether it is 1 hour or 10 hours per week, to be there for patients and help enhance their overall experience in hospital. 

The health board works with partner organisations and charities, including Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, Skills and Volunteering Cymru, Marie Curie, Horatio’s Garden, the University of South Wales and Cardiff University, to offer a range of roles for people of all ages. 

Sian and Tuly are among the Welcome Volunteers at the health board and are often the first friendly faces many visitors see when they arrive at hospital. 

Sian’s role involves meeting and greeting patients and visitors. Before volunteering, Sian worked for the health board as a social worker, and after retiring she decided to return as a volunteer on the outpatient corridor. 

Speaking about what she enjoys most, Sian said: 

“I like meeting people and helping them get to where they need to go. It gets me out of the house too. My husband says it keeps me out of the shops, apart from M&S in the Concourse. 

“It is lovely to see the difference we make as volunteers, and how appreciative people are. It can really mean a lot, especially when someone is in a difficult or painful situation.” 

Tuly is another Welcome Volunteer and is also a registered pharmacist in her home country of Bangladesh. 

When asked what she enjoys most about volunteering, Tuly said: 

“I love this volunteering role because I get to meet so many different types of people. It really helps me build new skills. The patients also brighten my day. They smile, ask how I am and make me feel welcome. 

“It means a lot that they remember me. It makes me feel better and shows how much these small interactions matter.” 

Mohammed is one of the Digital Trolley Volunteers, alongside studying for his master's degree. He joined the volunteering team to support patients while gaining valuable experience before entering the world of work. 

A typical day for Mohammed involves visiting patients with the trolley and offering items such as books and entertainment. He takes time to understand their preferences and helps them choose something they will enjoy. During his rounds, he chats with patients and later returns to collect items, often building meaningful connections along the way. 

Speaking about his experience, Mohammed said: 

“What I enjoy most are the stories I hear from patients, little insights into their lives. 

“Some were theatre actors, golfers or have travelled around the world, and they often tell me all about it. 

“It is also really nice getting to know patients and colleagues and feeling part of the wider team. It means supporting patients while learning new skills, such as managing records when lending out books and understanding patients’ preferences.” 

Thank you to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity for its generous funding in support of the digital library trolley initiative. You can find out more about the project on the Health Charity website here: Digital Library Trolley | Cardiff & Vale Health Charity

As well as supporting patients and visitors, volunteers also play an important role in supporting colleagues at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. 

Timothy Winterborn, Ward Manager at Lakeside Wing, University Hospital of Wales, said:  

“Because we have quite a lot of long stay patients, the volunteers spend time chatting with them, playing games and really enriching their stay.  

“I think they make a big difference through the activities and engagement they provide. 

“We have patients who are here for months at a time and it can become very difficult. Knowing that volunteers will come and spend time with them, and that families know there are people here to talk and play games, helps everyone cope a little better with being in hospital.” 

As a volunteer, you can gain unique healthcare experience whilst making a meaningful, positive impact on patients’ experience in hospital.  

To find out more, check out the volunteering vacancies on the  Voluntary Services - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board page.  

A special shout out to all the volunteers who are making a difference to patients every day this Volunteers Week.