MORE than 100 volunteers have been praised for giving their time to support local healthcare services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust celebrated its dedicated volunteers and Participation Partners as part of Volunteers’ Week at the beginning of the month.
Collectively, they have contributed more than 5,500 hours of service during 2025/26.
To mark the occasion, the Trust hosted a special thank you event, bringing volunteers and Participation Partners together for a celebratory lunch and awards ceremony in recognition of their invaluable contributions.
Among those celebrated was Andrew Parry, one of the Trust’s Pets as Therapy volunteers.
For the past three years, Andrew has been visiting Cromwell House, a Worcester-based mental health rehabilitation unit, each week with his trained dog, Tosca. Together, they have become a much-loved part of the rehabilitation programme.
Andrew highlighted the benefits of working with the service and volunteering, saying: “Being a volunteer with the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has been a very positive experience.
“The volunteer recruitment process is all handled professionally and smoothly. Because the role as volunteer involves meeting vulnerable people, DBS checking is essential and there is excellent online training on matters like whistle-blowing, confidentiality and more.
“My role was as a Pets As Therapy volunteer at a mental health rehabilitation unit. Our Jack Russell, Tosca, and I had about 3 rewarding years of bringing joy to patients, staff and visiting students alike.
“Sadly Tosca has reached a point where I have felt it necessary to retire him as a therapy dog. He has been a registered PAT dog now for 8 years so, in doggy years, he has earned his retirement.”
“I would recommend volunteering for the Trust to anyone who can spare a few hours a week and enjoys making life that little bit better for people.”
Gemma Artz, director of patient experience, digital and innovation said: “I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Andrew and all our volunteers across the Trust for their invaluable contributions.
“They play such an important role in supporting our patients, their families and our staff, often going above and beyond to provide comfort, reassurance and a friendly face. They make a real difference every day.”
