The Time for Health partnership has come together to provide a representative voice for all volunteers in health and to pave the way for greater collaboration between volunteers and health organisations across the UK.
The organisations that make up Time for Health all have grass roots experience of volunteering and health. They are testament to the enhanced care brought to patients, friends and family.
In particular, we know the contribution volunteering makes to enabling people to live independently in their local communities, especially for those coping with long term illness. Volunteering brings human warmth and personalises health and social services as well as increasing support at a local level.
We also know there are many complex barriers and challenges. There is no doubt that if volunteering in health is to grow, it must reflect the communities in which we live. Yet increasingly volunteers are over the age of 60 and mainly white.
Time for Health aims to increase learning and knowledge that will build a strong future for volunteering in health and social care. We plan to do this in a variety of ways:
- Holding national debates for leaders in the field, such as the Audrey Emerton debate to be held annually every Volunteers’ Week in June.
- Raising awareness through initiatives such as January’s Health Month.
- Running pilot projects in health and social care settings and disseminating the results widely.
- Sharing experiences and improving skills by providing training courses for volunteer managers.