Addenbrooke's Hospital has launched a major recruitment drive for dedicated volunteers, after suspending the service due to the pandemic.

The hospital, which currently has around 200 volunteers, wants to bring the number up to around 400.

While the service was suspended in March 2020 because of Covid, the trust was able to welcome back some volunteers in July 2021, but further variants of the virus stopped a full return until May 2022.

By that time many volunteers were wary about returning because of either their own or family health vulnerabilities, and others had moved on to new opportunities.

Voluntary services manager Maggie Brown said: "We feel now is the right time to proactively recruit volunteers into the hospital, and further boost the much needed service that is so appreciated by our patients and staff."

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Volunteers must be over 16, and able to commit at least two hours per week for a minimum of 26 weeks, although there is a programme of 10 weeks (five to six weeks in summer) for younger volunteers.

In return volunteers get e-module training essential to volunteering in healthcare, traditional training programmes and local mentoring.

They will also gain transferable skills such as communication, listening and teamwork - as well as the wellbeing benefits of volunteering, an opportunity to socialise and to stay fit as the Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) site covering 73 acres.

Volunteers help in a variety of different roles. On the wards they socialise with patients or act as guides to direct patients. Clinic volunteers help to make outpatient visits more comfortable, while library volunteers take trolleys of books to inpatients and activity pack volunteers provide puzzles.

Parking marshals help direct cars, while wheelchair volunteers help to collect and distribute mobility equipment and dementia champions work with frail patients.

One volunteer, Joe, who has been with Addenbrooke's for 12 years, said: "There is a lovely atmosphere in this hospital - it’s down to the staff who really appreciate what we volunteers do to make their days run a little smoother."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can get in touch at https://volunteering.cuh.org.uk.