35,000 Hours of Kindness: UHP Celebrates Volunteers’ Week 2026
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is proud to celebrate Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2026) by recognising and thanking the dedicated volunteers who give their time, compassion and energy to support our patients, staff and wider hospital community.
Volunteering at UHP continues to go from strength to strength, with more people than ever getting involved and a growing range of opportunities available across the Trust. Volunteers make a meaningful difference to patient experience every day - from providing a friendly face at the main entrance, to delivering medications to support timely patient discharge, to offering companionship and refreshments in the Emergency Department.
Throughout the week, the Trust will be highlighting volunteer stories on its social media channels, hosting thank-you events including a treat trolley and a special celebration evening at the Green Taverners Plymouth, and sharing messages of appreciation from staff and patients. Senior leaders will also be visiting volunteers across the hospital to personally thank them for their contribution. A big thank you goes to Plymouth Hospitals Charity for their ongoing funding and support, helping to enhance the volunteer experience throughout the year.
UHP currently benefits from the support of nearly 400 volunteers, ranging in age from 13 (part of our Young Persons Patient Council ) to 85+, contributing in over 30 different roles across multiple sites. Their kindness, commitment and generosity are felt in every corner of the Trust, supporting patients, families and staff alike.
Here’s a snapshot of their 2025 achievements:
- 224 new volunteers joined the team
- Under 24s now represent 32% of our volunteer workforce, demonstrating strong engagement from younger people in our community
- 35,005 hours were donated - the equivalent of 4,375 working days of support across the Trust
- Volunteers made 26,283 drinks and recorded 30,152 patient interactions - small moments that make a big difference, equating to engagement with around 11% of the Plymouth population
- Active Response volunteers delivered 17,153 medications, helping to improve patient flow and support timely discharges. They also walked an incredible 2,585,727 steps - the equivalent of travelling from Plymouth to Belarus
- 9 volunteers were successfully recruited into paid roles at UHP, demonstrating the value of volunteering as a pathway into NHS careers
Looking ahead, the Trust is excited to launch its new Volunteering Strategy for 2026-2031, setting out an ambitious vision to grow, innovate and further strengthen volunteering across UHP.
To keep up with our busy team, give us a follow @volunteeringuhp on Instagram.
If you’re interested in joining UHP as a volunteer, you can see current opportunities and apply here: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/volunteering .
New and existing roles are opened throughout the year, so be sure to check back if there isn’t anything that suits you right now - we’d love to hear from you when the right opportunity comes along.
