Volunteering for Health

On Thursday 4 June, volunteers and staff from Birmingham Community Healthcare Charity (BCHC) came together at Moseley Hall Hospital for a special celebration event as part of Volunteers’ Week 2026. This year’s celebrations were particularly significant, marking both the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week and the 10th anniversary of Birmingham Community Healthcare Charity. The event recognised the dedication, achievements and impact of volunteers across the Trust, highlighting the vital role volunteers play in supporting patients, staff and local communities throughout Birmingham. From supporting activities on hospital wards and helping maintain welcoming green spaces, to assisting at events, offering transport to appointments, or simply providing a friendly face and conversation, volunteers give their time, energy and compassion in countless ways. One volunteer who has dedicated his time to Birmingham Community Healthcare is Desmond (pictured), whose motivation for volunteering is deeply rooted in his Christian faith and desire to help others. “My inspiration for volunteering is drawn strongly from my faith in Jesus Christ whose commands I attempt to live daily. In Matthew 25:36 Jesus encouraged us to show love and care for the sick, and in verse 40 He said that whatever we do for those in need, we do to Him. So, when I learned about BCHC Charity, I became interested to assist in any way I can, knowing full well that I'm serving Jesus Christ through them.” Over his volunteering journey, Desmond has supported a range of activities and events, but one experience has stayed with him, in particular, through his work helping care for BCHC’s outdoor spaces. “My favourite so far is the gardening. One particular day, I observed a service user watching us weed the garden and resetting flowers. The smile on her face was all the encouragement I needed. It made me really happy and proud to serve in that capacity.” Like many volunteers, Desmond says the experience has shaped him personally as much as it has helped others. “Volunteering generally makes me a better person with each experience. I began volunteering with the Society of St Vincent de Paul in 2012, and that was where my compassion for those in need was nurtured. While serving service users in BCHC, my empathy grew even further. Outside the charity space, I tend to ask myself what I can do to add to the good living of everyone around me.” When asked to describe his volunteering experience in three words, Desmond chose: “Fulfilling, amazing, and beautiful.” Through the Volunteering for Health Partnership , BCHC continues to develop a range of volunteering opportunities for people who want to support patients, staff and the wider community. Roles currently include Charity Hub Volunteers, Charity Volunteers, Green Spaces Volunteers, Ward Activity Volunteers, and Volunteer Drivers supporting patient transport. Whether someone can spare a few hours occasionally or commit to something more regular, there are opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. Desmond has a simple message for anyone considering taking that first step into volunteering: “It's worth it! It is a complete pack of physical and spiritual exercise. Reach out to BCHC via their website and get involved as soon as possible. Looking forward to meeting you!” If you’re interested in volunteering with Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust visit their website: https://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/charity-volunteering Find other opportunities to volunteer with Birmingham health services on Volunteer Brum

Young people across Birmingham are taking the lead on health and wellbeing in their schools through a growing network of Volunteering for Health School Clubs . What began through the involvement of young volunteers in the wider Volunteering for Health programme has now developed into something new and exciting: student-led clubs created in response to ideas put forward by young people themselves. Ten schools have already signed up, showing the appetite among students to have a stronger voice in the health issues that matter to them. Designed for young people aged 14 to 21, the clubs give students the chance to explore real health topics, speak openly about issues often overlooked, and make a positive difference within their own school communities. Each club is led by students, with light-touch support from school staff for safeguarding and administration and support from several colleagues in the NHS who help coordinate city-wide gatherings and information flow for the clubs. Young people decide the direction of their club and choose the issues they want to focus on. Topics already identified include: immunisation and vaccination healthy eating sleep and wellbeing mental health women’s health local public health campaigns transition from children’s to adult healthcare Activities can include awareness campaigns, assemblies, information sessions, events, and peer-led discussions. Students also gain opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals, learn about careers in the sector, and build valuable skills such as teamwork, confidence, communication and leadership. Alongside activity in schools, members are supported through monthly online catch-ups and termly in-person events where clubs can share ideas and learn from one another. Leaders Day Brings Clubs Together On Wednesday 8 April, young people from the clubs came together for a Volunteering for Health Leaders Day at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust headquarters in Aston, Birmingham. The day began with a masterclass from Olli Hills of TikTok agency Nonsensical, who shared practical advice on creating effective video content and using social media to reach young audiences. In the afternoon, students worked in groups to develop ideas for future club activity, with many creating their own TikTok videos to promote health messages. Young Voices Making a Difference One of the young leaders attending the day was Afsana , from King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls and a member of the Volunteering for Health leadership team. She said: “I got involved in V4H as I really valued the purpose, which is to make healthcare opportunities more accessible to students. “I've seen many students struggle with securing healthcare opportunities in person due to how competitive they are. Through V4H, I hope to contribute to creating a more inclusive and accessible pathway into healthcare.” Speaking about the impact in school, she added: “The club has allowed students to gain leadership experience, as the co-chair and I have put together a leadership team, and we hope to increase the confidence and knowledge of other students within our school.” Yalda , also from King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls and a young leader in the programme, said: “I got involved because I genuinely wanted to make a difference and have my opinions heard in a way that could help shape the future of healthcare. “Healthcare affects us directly, yet we’re often left out of the decision-making process.” She said the club is already making an impact: “The Club is already providing confidence to young leaders, even though our first official session hasn’t taken place yet. “Engagement with healthcare topics has already increased, because the messages come from people of the same age group, making them relevant and relatable.” A Strong Foundation for the Future The creation of the Volunteering for Health School Clubs shows what can happen when young people are trusted to lead. Rather than being told what matters, students are shaping conversations themselves, supporting their peers, and helping build healthier school communities. With ten schools already involved, this is only the beginning. Find out more about Volunteering for Health

Watch the video : So! You think you're autistic | Videos & Movies on Vimeo April is World Autism Acceptance Month . It is a time to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and build understanding of autism. It also reminds us that autistic people should be supported, understood, and valued. To mark the month, we are sharing a video created last autumn by young volunteers who took part in the Volunteering for Health programme. The video was co-created with young people and the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Neurodevelopmental Pathway team. It is narrated by the young people in their own words, with support from the team. Using animation and real voices, the video asks an important question: Do you think you’re autistic? It shows supportive conversations between young people, explains common autistic traits, and talks about how to get an assessment. The video also explains what help is available while waiting for an assessment, including how schools can make reasonable adjustments to make everyday life easier. It also looks at what happens when a young person turns 16 and moves into adult services. This can include creating a hospital passport , which explains what support someone may need during appointments and what adjustments can help. Watch the video : So! You think you're autistic | Videos & Movies on Vimeo Find out more: www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/ndp-asd Find help and support: National Autistic Society (NAS): www.autism.org.uk/ Autism Support Service Directory: www.autism.org.uk/autism-services-directory/r/resources-for-autism-birmingham Autism West Midlands: www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/

Across Birmingham, the NHS and the city’s many charities are working hard to support patients, families and communities. Volunteers continue to play an important role in that picture - as a valued part of the wider health and wellbeing system. Our Volunteering for Health page brings together a wide range of opportunities that contribute to: Patient support within NHS settings Community health and wellbeing initiatives Tackling loneliness and social isolation Promoting healthier lifestyles Supporting recovery and independence For organisations delivering health-related activity - whether alongside the NHS or in the community - this page provides a shared space to showcase opportunities and help residents find the right route in. Health volunteering is often a first step for people looking to gain experience, build skills or explore careers in health and care. Making these roles visible and easy to access benefits the whole system. If you’re speaking to prospective volunteers, partners or stakeholders, please consider directing them to the Volunteering for Health section on Volunteer Brum. It’s a practical way we can collectively strengthen Birmingham’s health and wellbeing offer. Find health opportunities on Volunteer Brum

On Thursday 4 December, 35 young people aged 14-18 from across Birmingham came together with frontline NHS staff to explore how Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust collects and explains ethnicity data. The group was recruited by career coaches as part of the Volunteering for Health Programme. Building on ideas first explored in an earlier session in August, the focus was on how these conversations can feel safer, clearer and more supportive for patients, families and staff. The young people shared practical, creative ideas for improving how information is communicated, while staff helped ground these suggestions in day-to-day practice so they can genuinely shape future approaches. Ethnicity data is essential for understanding and reducing health inequalities. Without it, we cannot see whether changes in care are reaching the communities that experience the greatest disparities in health outcomes. The young people have helped identify clearer, more human and more meaningful ways to explain this, making sure families understand how sharing this information directly supports better, fairer care. Across the project, the young people developed a range of creative and practical ideas. These included: using text messages via the existing patient portal app to explain why the data is requested and why it matters short videos to be shown in waiting rooms or shared ahead of appointments a poster campaign, and a schools-based programme where students take a resource pack into their schools and run assemblies on health inequalities and data. Some of the students will be road-testing this approach. The third and final session on 16 December focused on developing these ideas further, and we’re particularly excited to be bringing the Trust’s communications team into the final phase. They will help shape the electronic and film-based outputs so they are engaging, accessible and ready for real-world use. We were also delighted to be joined by our Chief Nurse, Daljeet, who visited the group, shared her support, and passed on her compliments, recognising both the importance of this work and the value of young people leading change in how we communicate with families. This project is a powerful example of how youth voice, lived experience and creativity can strengthen how we tackle health inequalities in practice. We are excited for the final session in February, led by the communications team. Find out more about the Volunteering for Health Birmingham and Solihull Programme https://www.bvsc.org/volunteering-for-health

Children and young people from across the West Midlands have written and starred in a new video project to boost vaccination take-up.

An article that highlights what it's like to volunteer with Radio Lollipop.