Hospital celebrates 30 years of volunteering

Hundreds of people give up their spare time each year to help out at the busy hospital.

Voluntary groups include the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) which began many years ago at the former Keighley Victoria Hospital and provides shop services to outpatients and the wards.

Red Cross volunteers provide care for patients in the Day Hospital for the Elderly.

And the Friends of Airedale offer a range of different services from making sure patients can get to hospital, providing them with books to read and entertaining them on Radio Airedale.

Skipton General Hospital also has its own dedicated league of friends.

Over the 30 years Airedale Hospital has been in existence, voluntary groups have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for equipment to improve the hospital environment for patients and staff.

Last year the Friends of Airedale donated nearly £50,000 to the hospital trust in medical equipment and facilities.

More than 4,000 patients and visitors used the Friends' minibus service.

And 11,329 visitors were helped by the group's hospital guides.

Friends' chairman Margaret Moorhouse recalls how it all began back in 1970.

"There was a meeting at the St John's Hospital in Keighley with the late John Stanley Bell, who was one of the instigators in forming the group," she told the Herald.

"The meeting room was full, which just shows how people wanted to get involved at their hospital.

"Zoe Huffadine was the first co-ordinator and she was marvellous at getting it all off the ground.

"We're surprised that the number of volunteers has always remained pretty much constant."

The first hospital minibus was purchased by the Silsden and South Craven Friends 30 years ago to provide much-needed transport for those who could not get to hospital on their own.

The Friends now run a fleet of three buses and a car, which they purchased earlier this year.

"A lot of people empathise with hospitals and those who have been to Airedale for treatment wish to put something back - so they volunteer," added Miss Moorhouse.

"The Friends bring a dedicated and friendly attitude to their work."

Olive and Sidney Richardson are a husband and wife team who joined the Friends.

Over the last 10 years, Olive has been involved with the hospital's library, making sure patients are not bored and have something interesting to read.

"It's an opportunity for me to give something back into the community," she said.

"I enjoy meeting the people and helping to fill the gap in their lives, because some patients don't get visitors."

Sidney joined the Friends four years ago as a guide and now ensures visitors don't get lost in the hospital's myriad of corridors.

"I find that people really do appreciate the work we do," he said.

A songs of praise is to be held on Bank Holiday Sunday, August 27, to mark the 30th anniversary of both the hospital and volunteering.

The famous Black Dyke Mills Band will be providing the music for the service of thanksgiving, supported by the equally famous Steeton Male Voice Choir.

Guests are asked to bring along their own seat or chair, if required, and refreshments will be available after the service.

Elaine Foster, the hospital's voluntary services manager, said: "This songs of praise is an open invitation to all, so if you want to take part with a fine brass band come along to the outpatients' admissions forecourt where the service will start at 3.30pm."

Areas for car parking will be signposted at the entrance to the hospital.

Anyone who would like to offer their services as a hospital volunteer should contact Elaine Foster on 01535 295316.