Volunteer Week – Profiles

Posted on: Wednesday 1 Jun 2016

This year, the national Volunteers Week is a specially-extended 12 days and it’s a great chance to celebrate our fantastic Trust volunteers! They deserve more than just a week to celebrate their hard work and dedication in making a difference for patients who need it the most. The Trust currently has 480 volunteers actively helping throughout the Trust and community. On average our volunteers give 2,000 hours a month of their time. They come from all walks of life and range in age from 16-92!

Have you heard about…

Maureen Sephton
Maureen Sephton

Maureen volunteers in an admin role at Springhill House in Scarborough for the Podiatry Team. Maureen worked for over 20 years for the NHS at Scarborough Hospital in a variety of roles including Finance, Medical Records, Recruitment and e-learning.

She says: “I enjoy being useful and being able to give something back to the NHS. Volunteering keeps you busy and your mind active too!”


Kirsty MacKenzie
Kirsty MacKenzie

You may recognise Kirsty from her welcoming smile that’s often seen at the front entrance of the Harrogate District Hospital. She does upwards of four miles per shift going above and beyond, showing patients and visitors right to the door of the department they’re looking for.

She says: “It keeps my mind and body active. It’s a way of giving something back too.”


Valerie McVeigh
Valerie McVeigh

Valerie MacVeigh is a real people person. After spending 30 years working with the Post Office in Dagenham, she moved to Harrogate to be closer to family. After overcoming cancer herself, she’s spent more than seven years volunteering with the Trust. You can find her every Tuesday and Thursday manning the Patient Experience desk.

She says: “I love to talk to people and help where  I can. I think it’s important to occupy yourself and keep the mind active.”


Ruth McKay
Ruth McKay

Ruth Mackay volunteers as an office support worker at the Child Development Centre. She helps out with a range of administrative duties, from photocopying and filing to redesigning pathway diagrams and editing documents for staff members.

She says: “The staff at the CDC are wonderful, generous, and welcoming people, and they have made me feel so appreciated; I love coming in to work as it feels as though I’m making a difference within the Specialist Children’s Services team. It is especially rewarding to be able to contribute to a group of people who work so hard and always go above and beyond what is required of them.”