“It’s a great feeling for me to know I’m making a difference in people’s lives and contributing to a healthier community.”
Himal is one of the many dedicated volunteers at Black Country Healthcare who give their time, skills and energy to helping our patients and service users on their road to recovery.
This week we are marking the return of Volunteers’ Week, which is an annual celebration recognising the invaluable contribution of volunteers across the country.
From gardening and crafts to gym sessions, our volunteers work across all four boroughs of the Black Country to make a real difference to the people and communities we serve, on a diverse range of projects including gardening, crafts and gym sessions.
Himal volunteers as a gym instructor and supports staff to offer gym sessions to adult patients.
He was motivated to start volunteering with the Trust as he is passionate about health and fitness and wanted to use his skills to help others to reach their fitness goals.
Himal explains: “I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to help others in improving their fitness. It makes me happy to see people paying attention to get fit and progressing in their workouts.
“It’s rewarding for me too, to be a part of a healthy and supportive community. I also enjoy the positive energy and being able to share my knowledge and experience in benefit of people around me.”
He is passionate about the benefits of volunteering, adding: “It has helped me develop important skills like communication, leadership and teamwork, which are essential both personally and professionally.
“It’s a great feeling for me to know I’m making a difference in people’s lives and contributing to a healthier community. It keeps me motivated, and I feel connected with people.”
As well as giving back to the community, volunteering can play a vital role in helping people to achieve their personal and professional goals too. Himal aspires to become a personal trainer, and volunteering is helping him on this path.
He added: “I always want to know more about health and wellness, and hope to specialize in this field. Volunteering has been a great step towards gaining the in-hand experience of this field and to grow confidence.”
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Himal for his 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