Wanted: volunteers for new Carer Hub at the RUH

A new Carer Hub is set to open at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath and volunteers are being sought to help staff it.

The result of a unique partnership between B&NES Carers' Centre, Carer Support Wiltshire, the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and The Friends of the RUH, the Carer Hub is the first of its kind in the South West, providing information and advice to the hundreds of carers who pass through the hospital each day – either visiting the person they care for or accompanying them to appointments.

Situated in the Atrium at the RUH main entrance, the Carer Hub will initially operate as an unmanned information point when it opens on 9 June. But, as of its official launch in September, the Carer Hub will be staffed by a team of volunteers who will offer a warm welcome to those seeking information about the local support and services available to them.

This Volunteers' Week, we are launching our search for volunteers to staff the Carer Hub. Volunteers will receive full training and will belong to the family of volunteers managed by the hospital's charity, the Friends of the RUH.

If you have some time to spare and would like to find out more about how you can become involved, come along to the Carer's Hub at the RUH on Tuesday 9 June, from 2-4pm, to meet staff, carers and other volunteers. You'll be able to find out how the Carer Hub will work and ask any questions you might have. If you are interested in volunteering for the Carer Hub, but are unable to make it on the day, you can contact Janine Woodward-Grant (B&NES Carers' Centre) on jwg@banescarerscentre.org.uk or 0800 0388 885, or Jackie Short (Carer Support Wiltshire) on Jackie@carersinwiltshire.co.uk or 0800 181 4118.

Becoming a carer for the first time can be a stressful and daunting experience. Ensuring carers have access to the support and services available to them is vital. Alex Hurley, a volunteer at B&NES Carers' Centre, said: "Volunteering is a really powerful, good thing to do. Just by giving someone your time and supporting them to find the right information you can see how much it helps."

ENDS

For more information please contact Janine Woodward-Grant:
Tel 01761 431388 | Mobile 07474405775 | Email jwg@banescarerscentre.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. A carer can be anyone, of any age, who provides unpaid help to family or friends who would not be able to manage without their support. This could be caring for a relative, parent, child, partner or friend who is frail, has a physical or mental illness, disability or problem with drugs or alcohol. A carer is not employed to provide this help, but does so to improve the quality of life for another person. Sadly, most carers struggle alone and do not realise the help that is available to them.
2. B&NES Carers' Centre is an independent carers' charity and is the leading provider of support, advice, breaks away from caring and influential lobbying for the 20,000 people who are carers in Bath and North East Somerset. The Centre provides a wide range of free services to carers throughout the area and manages projects to actively seek out "hidden carers" to access help, support and services. The Carers' Centre is a network member of Carers Trust.
3. Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to people looking after family members and friends across Wiltshire. There are an estimated 47,608 people caring across the county. Carer Support Wiltshire is a member of the Carers Trust. Find out more at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk
4. The Friends of the RUH have worked since 1957 to bring comfort and amenities to patients, and to staff at the hospital. They have over 300 volunteers doing many different jobs including visiting wards, and a Shop and a Coffee Shop making a financial profit which goes to the hospital, and which provide necessities, refreshments and rest.
5. Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The Trust became an NHS Foundation Trust on 1 November 2014 and acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases on 1 February 2015.
6. Volunteers' Week (1-7 June) is an annual campaign highlighting the incredible work volunteers do, and which aims to get more people into volunteering.
   www.volunteersweek.org

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