“Talking about my role fills me with happiness. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”
Deepthi moved to the UK from India a year ago and wished to continue working in her field of mental health. To gain experience of the healthcare system in her new home, Deepthi began volunteering at Black Country Healthcare.
She plays a vital role by helping out every week on a female adult ward where she supports the nursing staff in any way she can, from running activities and doing laundry to helping patients to feel more comfortable.
Deepthi is one of the many volunteers who give their time and skills to help our patients and who we want to recognise this Volunteers’ Week.
To mark Volunteers’ Week we caught up with Deepthi to find out more about her volunteering experience and what it means to her.
“I’m originally from India and moved to the UK a year ago. Back home, I worked in mental health, and I knew I wanted to continue in a similar field here. Volunteering felt like the right first step to gain experience and better understand the healthcare system in a new country.
“I volunteer on a female ward, supporting the nursing team in any way I can whether that’s helping with activities, doing laundry, or simply being present to make patients feel more comfortable. It’s all about improving their overall hospital experience. I volunteer for around two hours each week and have been doing so for just over a year now.
“I truly love working in a mental health setting because it allows me to connect with people who are in need and offer compassion, support, and understanding. I’ve built strong relationships with both the staff and the patients, and I really enjoy the activities we run on the ward. Through this role, I’ve learned how to engage with individuals who have a range of needs and conditions, and that experience has been incredibly valuable.
“Currently, I’m working as a care assistant alongside this role while pursuing my social work registration. My long-term goal is to become a qualified social worker here.
“Talking about my role fills me with happiness. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to contribute, and hearing from staff that I’m making a real difference is the best reward of all.”
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Deepthi for her time and dedication to helping our Trust.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, please email bchft.volunteers@nhs.net