NHS volunteers from Walsall and Wolverhampton were honoured at a special Christmas celebration held to thank them for their outstanding commitment.
The festive event brought them together with staff to recognise the remarkable contribution of 486 volunteers at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
This year, their combined efforts equated to an estimated £390,000 worth of volunteer hours delivered across both Trusts.
Beyond the significant time commitment, new analysis using the HACT (a charitable housing trust) social value methodology forecasts an impressive £2.4 million in annual social value.
This impact is driven by regular volunteering activity, skills development, training opportunities, and the confidence gained by volunteers through their service.
Garry Perry, Associate Director Patient Voice (Experience) at both Trusts, said: “Volunteers are the golden thread running through NHS services—providing empathy, reassurance, and often life-changing support to patients and families.
“Their presence enhances patient experience, supports staff wellbeing, and helps build meaningful pathways into NHS careers.
“The celebration also highlighted how volunteering is strategically aligned with wider NHS priorities, strengthening community connections while supporting workforce resilience and inclusion.
“Volunteers are at the heart of NHS care—and their contribution is truly something to celebrate. Happy Christmas to all.”
Diana Mason, 79, has been a volunteer at Walsall for the last 16 years. She is a tutor for the self-care management programme. This is a service for people living with long-term health conditions.
She said: “I have loved the Christmas event today, but I need to get better at the Christmas quiz!
“I really enjoyed getting together with the other volunteers and meeting new ones.”
Ash Shamji, a 69-year-old volunteer within Walsall Manor Hospital’s Emergency Department for the past two years, said: “Volunteering gives me fulfilment. I enjoy giving back to the patients and helping them, and that gives me a lot of satisfaction.
“It has been nice talking to other volunteers, and the social element of speaking and getting to know others.”
Both Trusts are committed to building on this success through a number of future initiatives, including:
- Implementing a Social Impact Framework to ensure consistent measurement and reporting
- Expanding diversity and inclusion through targeted community outreach
- Developing a Volunteer Passport Scheme to enable flexibility across organisations
- Investing in volunteer coordination capacity to scale impact sustainably