Wednesday 1 June 2022 is the start of Volunteers' Week, an annual celebration of the contribution people make through volunteering.

Across the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, dozens of volunteers choose to give up their time to help others.

Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive of the Royal Devon said: “Our volunteers make a huge difference to our patients, visitors, staff and local community. We have volunteers in a range of locations, including our acute hospitals, community hospitals and vaccination centres, and some volunteers support people in their own homes. The roles they take on vary enormously, from gardeners to emergency department ushers, hospital radio presenters to vaccination stewards.

“We are humbled by the number of volunteers who step in to support us each and every day. On behalf of the Royal Devon, I would like to thank all of our incredible volunteers for the invaluable role they play in caring for others.”

Volunteers have played a vital role in the COVID-19 vaccination roll out during the last 12 months, helping to deliver over 2.7 million vaccines to date in Devon, at centres in Exeter and Barnstaple, and pop-up vaccination centres.

The Trust’s band of dedicated volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups. But the thing that they all have in common is a desire to help others who may need a kind word and a friendly face.