Volunteers 'deserve support and respect'

Date published: 06 June 2018


Oldham Council’s new Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care has paid tribute to the “staggering contribution” made to wellbeing in our borough by volunteers.

But Dr Zahid Chauhan has also called on more to be invested to help to set-up volunteer-led programmes to combat problems such as loneliness – rated recently as a bigger healthcare epidemic than obesity.

And he also wants Government to stop cutting life-changing projects and not think that volunteers are simply a cheap option to replace experts and important roles in health and social care.

“From befrienders of dementia patients on wards to gardeners at hospices and homes, people are giving of their free time to care for others in the community of Oldham,” said Dr Chauhan.

"The roles they perform are not just compassionate, they are also vital. Remember the first person a distressed patient or visitor sees when they enter hospital is likely to be a volunteer guide. Or that the person aiding the town centre reveller in the early hours of the morning is an Oldham Street Angel.

"These unpaid workers deserve our support and our respect, and I for one will make sure their contribution is never undervalued.”

Speaking during Volunteers Week (June 1-7), Dr Chauhan expressed concern that austerity was having a major impact on services and that those who do good were being taken for granted by a Government who he claims cared little about the vulnerable.

“Even with the superb support of volunteers, projects to help curb addiction or provide vital training for groups such as the homeless have been hampered by cuts,” added Dr Chauhan.

"I do wonder what impact this has not only on our community but on the people who have given of their free time to mentor others.

"Instead of cutting, we should be increasing the kind of volunteer-led projects that help others, and imbue those who give of their free time with confidence and skills that are useful in the job market.”

Loneliness is one of the issues volunteers could help alleviate, claims the GP.

Recent figures showed that almost half of UK adults admitted it was time they befriended someone new, citing busy lives and stress for their isolation.

The theme of this year’s Volunteers Week is diversity with a reminder that volunteers can come from all walks of life.

“This is another boon for our borough,” concluded Dr Chauhan.

"People working together of all ages and from all backgrounds, breaking down barriers in a bid to do good.

"Volunteering says all that is best about our society.

"Now we need to back our volunteers properly and respect them as heroes of our community.”

Learn more about Volunteers Week and how you can give of your time to care for others by visiting: www.volunteersweek.org

To discover how you can volunteer in Oldham and Tameside or support voluntary action, go to: www.actiontogether.org.uk    

Dr Zahid Chauhan is a GP and national health campaigner.

He is also the founder of the Homeless Friendly initiative, aimed at tackling health inequalities and offering the best healthcare to all – including those without a permanent address.

Discover more about Homeless-Friendly at: www.homelessfriendly.co.uk