6th June 2025
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust hosted a special celebration event to mark Volunteers’ Week 2025.
Held at South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon, the day brought together volunteers from across the organisation to thank them for the vital role they play in supporting service users, families, and staff.
Organised by the Trust’s three Volunteer Coordinators, the celebration featured lunch and a variety of health and wellbeing activities — including Chi Me and the inclusive ball game Boccia.
Gerard Rocks, Assistant Director for Promoting Wellbeing, said:
“We have a strong commitment to our volunteers, demonstrated once again last year when the Trust retained the Investing in Volunteers Award from the UK Volunteering Forum — the UK’s quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers.
“Across our services, this dedicated team contributes over 354 hours of volunteering per week — equating to nearly 18,500 hours each year of additional support, care and connection, delivered across the communities we serve. We quite literally could not do without them.”
He continued:
“We have over 300 volunteers and they make a powerful impact across a wide variety of roles — from our Here to Help team at Craigavon Area and Daisy Hill Hospitals, who assist visitors with directions and navigation, to those offering mentoring, befriending, Pets as Therapy, mealtime assistance, breastfeeding peer support, and spiritual care.
“One of the reasons they have such a meaningful influence in our Trust is because we welcome volunteers from all walks of life — people of all ages and backgrounds, each bringing unique life experiences and a shared desire to give back.”