Thank you to volunteers
AS we come to the end of National Volunteer Week I should like to pay tribute to everyone who gives their time, talent and energy for the good of the community.
Every volunteer has a personal reason for doing what they do.
Perhaps they feel they are putting something back.
For some it’s a way of keeping busy and others may even just be having fun with family and friends.
Whatever the reasoning, thousands of organisations in Greater Manchester are far better BECAUSE of my work I get to meet many different people and I have quite a collection of business cards – but one in particular stands out.
It reads: Robin Graham MA, Laughter Consultant. Laughter consultant? I had to learn more. Robin runs Feelgood Communities, which, among other things, organises laughter activities.
Robin says that laughter helps people to be more off, owing to the contribution of volunteers.
This week I was a guest at the diamond anniversary of Wythenshawe Hospital’s League of Friends, a very impressive group of people.
One volunteer is 90 years old and there are some, including Mary and Brian Kay who’ve been involved for 45 years.
The LOF serves three areas throughout Wythenshawe hospital; the Lung Centre, the AnteNatal Unit and the Heart Unit.
It gets no sponsorship effective, more productive and more creative.
He tells me that the sessions he organises help with team building, confidence building and problem solving.
There are even laughter championships and laughter clubs where you can get together for the chuckles and raises funds through its cafes, raffles, tombolas and special cake day sales.
Every year the volunteers serve up 40,000 cups of tea, 39,000 cups of coffee, 20,000 cups of cappuccino and 15,000 cups of hot chocolate (obviously some work to be done with the posh coffees and hot chocolate).
I was pleased to be invited by Derek Hart, the chairman, to their lunchtime celebration and I’d like to congratulate every single individual for what they do to help others. which bring health benefits.
Robin told me all this after reading of my dodgy jokes which appear at the end of this column, so I’m trying not to take it personally.
It’s a fascinating subject and it’s worth looking at the website: feelgoodcommunities. org.