The RVS has gifted £250,000 towards dementia initiatives and has celebrated the service of its volunteers
The volunteers and supporters of a charity that supports those in hospital have been praised.
The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) presented NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a gift of £250,000 at a ceremony at The Merchants House of Glasgow on Thursday 21 June.
The money is a proportion of the profits taken from the eight cafés and shops the charity runs across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s hospitals.
Shops at Vale of Leven, Gartnavel, New Victoria, Inverclyde Royal, West Glasgow, Royal Alexandra, Stobhill and Queen Elizabeth University not only sell refreshments and gifts, but can also provide a friendly face for those visiting loved ones.
The funds given to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be used to support its dementia initiatives, create activity boxes for patients and fund new equipment to enhance the patient and visitor experience. The money will also be invested into other projects to benefit patients, visitors and staff across wards in all its hospitals.
The RVS’ Andrew Roberts said: “We are delighted to present such a large amount of money to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The money was raised through the hard work and efforts of our dedicated volunteers who help Royal Voluntary Service in its work to support the NHS as well as older people in their homes and in the community.”
The ceremony also saw 38 Royal Voluntary Service volunteers receiving recognition for their long service. Having accrued more than 400 years between them, award recipients included Wilma McDonald who has been volunteering in the shop and café at West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital - previously the Royal Hospital for Sick Children - for 30 years.
McDonald said: “Volunteering at the hospital gives me so much so much pleasure and satisfaction. I can’t believe I have been here for 30 years. The time goes so quickly, it is always busy. I’ve been very lucky to make so many friends and meet so many interesting people over the last three decades.”
