Our Newsletter from the Charity & Involvement Team.
SPR I NG 2 0 2 1
S p r i n g b r i n g s i n . . . a r ay o f h o p e & j o y !
WI TH I N THESE PAGES : OPERATION SUNFLOWER 03
A year ago, we were at the beginning of a very new and di f f icul t journey. One that has been hard for us al l in di f ferent ways and that we wi l l recal l for many sorrows, di f f icul t ies and chal lenges. But , as we wr i te this newslet ter, i t is wi th hope that we are looking forward. Vaccines are being rol led out , restr ict ions are being updated and here at Oxford Heal th, new act ivi t ies are being planned, volunteers are start ing to return to roles and char i ty events are being scheduled. We hope that this newslet ter f inds you wel l and wi l l give you al l the news and informat ion you need to make 2021 a very di f ferent year to the last .
VOLUNTEERING IN COVID19 TIMES 04
VOLUNTEERING - A FRESH START 06 FROM OFFICE TO HOME 08
ALL FOR TEAM
NHS 10
SUPPORTING OXFORD HEALTH CHARITY
11
SMILE INSIDE 12
CREATING WITH CARE - 2020-21 13 UPCOMING EVENTS 14 THE PATH AHEAD 16 VOLUNTEER SKILL AUDIT 18
As always, we are immensely grateful for your constant support and commi tment to Oxford Heal th.
Charity & Involvement Team Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
LOOK I NG FORWARD
Our newsletter has a new title and theme (thanks to Maya for finding the logo) which reflects the way in which our team has grown over the last year.
As the Charity and Involvement Team, we are creating more links between volunteering, community projects, arts projects and the Oxford Health Charity. The team sits under Director for Corporate Affairs, Kerry Rogers, and is led by Julie Pink, Head of Charity and Involvement. Maya Jose continues as the Volunteer Programme Administrator with Michelle Evans as the Oxford Health Charity Development Coordinator and Tom Cox and Angela Conlan as the Oxford Health Arts Partnership Leads. Some of you will have already been involved in projects spanning the whole team, with Oxford Health Cares - our charity care pack programme for staff being one of the key features last year involving volunteers, crafters, fundraisers and staff. There is plenty to look forward to and get involved with in the coming year with fundraisers, Volunteers Week (1-7 June), HealthFest, new volunteer roles and events all on the horizon. This newsletter, and future editions will highlight all the information you need on these. We have also been developing a Volunteer Skills Audit which will help us to highlight projects of interest to you and also ensure that we are developing new roles which meet your skills or backgrounds. The audit will be available as an electronic form or can be sent as a hard copy if you would rather - just let us know if you need a copy. Over the next few pages, there are case studies on some recent projects and a couple of our volunteers who are talking about their experiences over the last year. There is also an update from the charity about upcoming fundraisers and projects that you might like to get involved with or circulate to your local communities. There are ongoing developments in art projects and green spaces across the Trust, information on how you can be involved or see some of the new spaces is highlighted. Finally, but definitely not least, key information on returning to your roles is provided and we really hope to see all our volunteers returning over the next few months but if you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Key Dates for the Diary
1-7 June - Volunteers Week 2021
11 September - HealthFest
17 October - Oxford Half for Oxford Health
OP ERAT I ON S UN F LOWER
Last month, all 2,000 members of staff in Oxford Health’s Community Services Directorate received a gift of some sunflower seeds and a letter of recognition, all delivered to them at home. It was to thank them for their tremendous commitment to patients and each other throughout the hardest of years. The idea for ‘Operation Sunflower’ came from Lucia Winrow, Deputy Director of Neighbourhood Teams, who co-ordinated the initiative, and is made possible with support from Oxford Health Charity, and our volunteers who packed and sent the gifts.
‘Operation Sunflower’ was made possible with the support from Oxford Health Charity, and our volunteers who packed and sent the gifts.
Volunteer Lilly Sabir got her children Ibrahim,9, (from left), Hanaa- Sophiya, 11 and Jeevan-Ali, 10, to help .
Community Directorate Service Director, Emma Leaver said, “We wanted to find a way of spreading some joy and a signal of hope to our staff who have been nothing short of tremendous throughout this pandemic. It’s been a tough year for sure. However, we have learnt a lot and developed new ways of working that have helped us to cope. Our senior team has been regularly humbled by our staff and their commitment to our patients and to each other.” Our ever resourceful volunteer team was very supportive and helped us bring this project to life in a very short span of 4-5 days. We had targeted this project at our volunteers who were shielding and had a total of nine volunteers helping us with the packing, including Charles who has been shielding since March 2020 and Lilly, a new volunteer, who also got her children involved.
Volunteer Charles Russell packed over 500 sunflower seed and thank you letter packages with his wife Fran .
S P R I NG 2021
VOL UNTEER I NG I N COV I D1 9 T IME S
BY CAROLYN H I NTON ( URGENT CARE VOLUNTEER )
At the beginning of 2020, I was del ighted to be accepted as an urgent care volunteer wi th Oxford Heal th and al though sl ight ly apprehensive, I was looking forward to meet ing new people and get t ing to gr ips wi th what was expected of me in the role. Then Covid happened and understandably my role was put on hold due to the r isks involved. I recognised the r isks I might br ing (and receive!) and so al though I was frustrated that I could not help the overstretched team and act ively play my role as a volunteer, I real ised I needed to be pat ient . I completed the r isk assessment form and hope that as soon as the team is able to make the decision to restart act ivi t ies, I can get involved. I am looking forward to meet ing the team and hopeful ly also some of the other volunteers.
I did manage to do one lovely piece of volunteer ing in late 2020 when I drove a lot of the support packages to var ious communi ty teams around Oxfordshi re.
I never knew there were teams in so many places across the county. What a privilege to be the deliverer of good things to the teams in such a difficult year!
S P R I NG 2021
VOL UNTEER I NG I N COV I D1 9 T IME S
BY CAROLYN H I NTON ( URGENT CARE VOLUNTEER )
I know that there are a lot of volunteers who have not been able to get involved this past year and are real ly looking forward to being able to support again. I am sure as soon as the si tuat ion al lows, the indefat igable lovely Maya wi l l soon be let t ing us know about further volunteer ing opportuni t ies.
Best wishes to al l , Carolyn.
Maya putting together some of the packs delivered by Carolyn, over 2000 care packs were sent out between March and December 2020 and it couldn't have been done without our volunteer drivers
Oxford Recovery College - Easter Eggs and Mental Health Podcast
Easter Eggs and Mental Health is a podcast about celebrations and how we use special events across the year to mark the passage of time and feel more positive about the everyday. Stephanie chats with ORC tutors Vera and Sreeja about how they have got through the dull days of Lockdown and what gives their lives meaning. You can type in Oxfordshire Recovery College Podcast on your preferred podcast streaming platform, or click on the links below to listen to us on Spotify, Anchor FM or on our website page -
https://oxfordshirerecoverycollege.org.uk/podcasts/ :
S P R I NG 2021
VOL UNTEER I NG - A FRE SH S TART
BY L I L LY SAB I R ( NEURO DEVELOPMENTAL COND I T I ONS - V I RTUAL SUPPORT VOLUNTEER )
The mot ivat ion to take up a volunteer ing role real ly stemmed from my desi re to obtain some cl inical exper ience in the subject psychology. I was coming to the end of my Masters(MSc) and, whi lst the MSc in psychology has provided me wi th a strong foundat ion to be able to carry out research in the exper imental side of the f ield, I hadn’ t received the opportuni ty to pursue appl ied cl inical learning. So, I was del ighted to be able to volunteer for the NDC Pathway Chi ld and Adolescent Mental Heal th (CAMHS) team at NHS Maple House. Mar ia B, my cl inical lead manager has provided me wi th such wonderful support ive encouragement that I want to be able to help grow and support the department wherever I can. Connect ing using Microsof t teams for our ini t ial conversat ion to then being able to go see Maple House under covid restr ict ions has been a relat ively easy transi t ion. Much of my role and interact ion has been using the onl ine plat form for meet ings and discussions but they work just as wel l to be honest .
Maple House has social distancing and testing available on site and this has reassured me when things do open up again.
S P R I NG 2021
VOL UNTEER I NG - A FRE SH S TART
BY L I L LY SAB I R ( NDC - V I RTUAL SUPPORT VOLUNTEER )
My pr imary role at Maple House has been to create a framework to carry out a evidence-based stress intervent ion support group for parents - whose chi ldren are on a lengthy wai t ing l ist who need to be seen by the NDC Pathway team. We are due to start these soon. I have been of fered training to help my ski l lset , such as at tending a DBT ski l l workshop whi lst volunteer ing. This is an added bonus as I have been applying to do my PHD and universi t ies wi l l be interested in appl ied learning.
My role can carry on remotely and that is one of the advantages of onl ine training for al l of us in general .
I had one opportuni ty to go to the bui lding and meet the team, whi lst adher ing to covid restr ict ions. The team were fr iendly and very professional , and I cannot wai t to be a useful member of thei r department , as a volunteer. My main role is to help and carry out tasks in support of the team and so I rel ish in trying to be independent enough to do this - yet communicate wi th the team when requi red. I have also f inished my MSc so this wi l l coincide nicely wi th a more 1 to 1 and face to face set t ing when covid restr ict ions are l i f ted.
S P R I NG 2021
FROM OF F I CE TO HOME
B Y DAV I D P I T T AWA Y ( ADM I N I S T R A T I V E VO L UN T E E R , S P I R I T UA L AND P AS T OR A L CA R E T E AM )
Dur ing March 2020, I was sent an NHS Workforce Screening Assessment Form to complete and send to Occupat ional Heal th to ascertain the correct working envi ronment for me and my col leagues. Because I am aged over 70 years of age, classed as a vulnerable person and I volunteer wi th the Spi r i tual and Pastoral Support team, which is based in a smal l of f ice; i t was decided that i t would be preferable for me to cont inue my administrat ive dut ies from home. I t was agreed to give me access to the shared area documents and to be set up on my personal laptop. The intent ion was for me to be provided wi th an NHS laptop when one became avai lable. I have found volunteer ing from home easy to cope wi th (the only issue I have had was regarding the changing of my emai l and log- in passwords, which has now been resolved) and communicat ion wi th my supervisor (Guy Harr ison) and other team col leagues very easy by emai l and telephone. Certainly, very workable.
I have found working from home easy to cope ... b ut I do miss the personal contact a little, if I am honest.
But I do miss the personal contact a l i t t le, i f I am honest .
S P R I NG 2021
FROM OF F I CE TO HOME
B Y DAV I D P I T T AWA Y ( ADM I N I S T R A T I V E VO L UN T E E R , S P I R I T UA L AND P AS T OR A L CA R E T E AM )
I also volunteer wi th two other local char i t ies; one helps service users wi th mental heal th recovery and the other helps supply bespoke disabi l i ty equipment . I have also been assessed as needing to volunteer from home wi th these.
My exper iences are simi lar. General ly, no problems.
On a personal level , I have found shielding and l imi t ing my travel understandable and cope-able. Because I am able to go out for dai ly exercise, I f ind I use the car and publ ic transport less and take walks and cycle r ides. I aim to cont inue wi th this into the future. My relat ionship wi th my partner has not changed and maybe improved in some ways. Bet ter communicat ion between us. I am a l i t t le dissat isf ied wi th my lack of the usual contact wi th my daughter and my grandson though, a phone cal l or a zoom contact is not qui te the same. Footnote from the team - David has been one of a number of Oxford Health volunteers provided with laptops through an NHS England and NHS Improvement grant aimed at maintaining volunteer support through the pandemic and beyond. This grant has made a big difference to how teams have been able to involve their volunteers despite their need to shield or as a result of reduced capacity within offices.
S P R I NG 2021
AL L FOR TEAM NHS
B Y MA R Y L I N T R I GG ( URGEN T CA R E VO L UN T E E R & NA T I ONA L NHS R E S POND E R )
I volunteered, at the beginning of the pandemic, for the 'Responder ' role and also for a role through the local NHS (Oxford Heal th). I was successful in both and have been a 'Responder ' throughout and also I became, for two days a week dur ing the f i rst wave, a packer for PPE equipment . I have thoroughly enjoyed both roles; I have met such a var iety of interest ing and dedicated people, kept up to date on the government requi rements for keeping safe and managing covid and also developed my intra and interpersonal ski l ls. Since the f i rst wave the ppe packing stopped but the 'Responder ' role kept going, al though not near ly as intense. However, due to the work I have undertaken over the past year, I real ly feel a sense of helping the communi ty both local ly and Oxfordshi re and I am cont inuing to volunteer when needed. I t is such an important role in society and I bel ieve more and more people understand this and are wi l l ing to come forward. I t is hugely rewarding to help people both physical ly and mental ly.
Due to the work I have undertaken over the past year, I really feel a sense of helping the community both locally and Oxfordshire and I am continuing to volunteer when needed
S P R I NG 2021
S UP PORT I NG OXFORD HEAL TH CHAR I TY
Oxford Health Charity support patients, carers and staff at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust . This past year the Char i ty has been asked to help more than ever to provide support above the standard NHS provision. From providing art suppl ies and act ivi t ies for pat ients through to smal l morale boosts for staf f - books, laundry bags and cakes!
How you can help
Spread the word! I f you/your fami ly/ fr iends are looking to support a char i ty or fundraise please do consider us. Drop us an emai l charity@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk i f you've an idea we'd love to hear from you! Connect with Us - i f you are on social media please l ike/ fol low us to see the very latest or visi t our websi te www.oxfordhealth.charity
@Oxford-Heal th-Char i ty
@OxfordHeal thChar i ty
@OxHeal thChar i ty
Oxford Half for Oxford Health
The Oxford Hal f marathon is back on 17 October 2021! We've places st i l l avai lable in the Oxford Heal th Char i ty team. The day i tsel f promises to be a celebrat ion and as we've come to expect from the Oxford Hal f they' l l be music and entertainment that wi l l spur you through the ci ty's histor ic streets to that f inish l ine! Interested in joining us? Drop us an emai l charity@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
S S S SHHHH !
We' re sworn to secrecy just now. But save 5th July in your diary for a nat ional celebrat ion and we' l l share more detai ls very soon!
S P R I NG 2021
SMILE INSIDE - CAN YOU HELP BRING A STORY TO LIFE? Smile Inside is a project developed in response to Covid-19 by Creating with Care and IID dance company to connect with and support patients at Witney Community Hospital. The project asks patients to share a story that makes them smile, each story will be recorded and used as a starting point for the creative response.
We are now asking professional artists, staff, and the community for their creative responses to the stories which will be exhibited at Witney Community Hospital this summer. Creative responses can be in any genre, a painting, sculpture, poem, collage, dance, song or any combination. All the creative responses we receive will be given to the person whose story inspired the artwork to help put a smile on their faces. The images below show how this might come to life and make a real difference to the person who has told their story.
If you would like to create a response please contact angela.conlan@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Volunteers' Week 2021
It will also be an opportunity to meet other volunteers and share our experiences of the past year. If nothing else, the last year has taught us the importance of relationships and the difference you make in the life of others. Let's continue to celebrate our togetherness and the difference volunteers make. If you have any suggestions for activities, email volunteering@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.
Volunteers' Week takes place as usual between 1 - 7 June. This year we would like to host a Volunteers' Day - scheduled for Monday 7 June. In line with current restrictions, it would be a virtual event with activities focused on wellbeing and support. Just a small gesture to thank you for your ongoing dedication to the Trust.
Look out for your invite in the post next month.
S P R I NG 2021
CREATING WITH CARE - 2020 HIGHLIGHTS
We started 2020 with great plans to continue the our arts programme for Oxfordshire's Community Hospitals and develop the work we had achieved over the previous 3 years; we could not have imagined at the start of the year how the global pandemic would take hold and the implications this was going to have for staff, patients and their relatives. During this time many of our projects were cut short, future ones shelved and we like everyone else had to reshape our plans for 2020, we needed to quickly learn how to be innovative in the delivery of arts-based activities in what has been and still is a challenging time for everyone. Creating with Care responded creatively by delivering virtual concerts and art lessons, providing individual creative packs and art carts for each ward, we also offered one-to-one art sessions, garden concerts and supported patients with virtual calls to relatives and loved ones and staff projects including a memorial project to create a mosaic for a member of staff who passed away.
Over the past year, Creating with Care co-ordinated donations of 1000s of craft items for staff from laundry bags and scrubs to 100s of knitted Dr. Bears for the children of staff.
Creating with Care was honoured to win the 2020 Community Hospitals Association Award for Innovation and Best Practice in Improving Patient Care.
This year Creating with Care and Artscape joined forces to form Oxford Health Arts Partnership. This groundbreaking arts partnership aims to be a voice and influence for the arts in healthcare across the trust and beyond and has already been highlighted as a case study for the Culture, Health and Wellbeing alliance.
Together we aim to continue to demonstrate just how much cultural activities like art, dance, and music can enhance patient and staff wellbeing.
We would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who have supported us over the year.
S P R I NG 2021
UPCOMI NG EVENT S
HEALTH MATTERS: CONNECTING WITH NATURE:
May 10 -16 is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is Nature.
Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world. At Oxford Health we have many initiatives that tap into this great resource, and one the trust’s strategic priorities is to make the best use of our resources and protect the environment.
Join us to hear more about these initiatives in the Virtual Health Matters: Connecting with Nature on Wednesday, May 12 from 12:30pm to 13:15. To join, please click here
John Upham, Compliance and Sustainability Manager Dr Catriona Mellor, Specialty Doctor, Marlborough House Adolescent Unit Julie Pink, Head of Charity and Community Involvement Our event will be chaired by Trust Chair David Walker, and on the panel are:
How to take part The webinar will be run as a live event on Microsoft Teams and you will be able to join here. Click on the link just before 12:30pm on Wednesday, May 12. The easiest way to join is on your computer. If you are joining on a mobile or tablet, you may need to download the Teams app. You do not need to create an account as this meeting is set up for the public. Just press ‘Join meeting’ once the app is downloaded. Make it easier to join Get a reminder of the link a day before the event – sign up here.
S P R I NG 2021
UPCOMI NG EVENT S
SUPPORT AT WI TNEY CARN I VAL TLC STAND
LEARNING DISABILITIES AWARENESS WEEK Save the date for a Webinar
We are looking for a couple of volunteers to support the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) stand at the Wi tney Carnival this year. TLC has been in place wi thin our urgent care uni ts since the end of 2019 and over 1000 teddies have been given to young people thanks to the programme run by the Oxford Freemasons and supported by Mandy McKendry, Urgent and Ambulatory Care Matron. I f you would be free for a couple of hours on Saturday 10 July to talk to people about Urgent Care in Wi tney, please do get in touch. You would not be there alone, one of the Urgent Care team wi l l also be in at tendance alongside some of the Freemasons team, and al l appropr iate COVID pract ices wi l l be in place.
June 22, 2021
Tuesday
12:30 - 1:15
HEALTHFEST 2021
The theme, timings and plans for HealthFest 2021 are currently being developed but the date has been set as 11 September 2021 and the event will again be part of the wider Oxford Open Doors weekend, delivered by the Oxford Preservation Trust.
The event is likely to be part virtual and part 'in person' with discussions ongoing about music, sports and sponsored walks.
If you would like to be part of the planning or delivery of the annual event, please get in touch through volunteering@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.
S P R I NG 2021
THE PATH AHEAD
UPCOMING VOLUNTEERING ROLES
PALS (Pat ient Advice and Liaison Service) support volunteers across the Trust Green spaces volunteers at the Fulbrook Centre in Headington Oxford Heal th Arts Partnership volunteers Ward Support - Abingdon & Wi tney Communi ty Hospi tals Admin Support - Urgent Care (Abingdon/ Vi rtual ) Packaging Support (Remote Role) We are exci ted to have space for more volunteers wi th the fol lowing teams
I f ei ther of these are of interest , please get in touch.
We would l ike to see al l our volunteers returning to thei r roles over the coming months but recognise that things may have changed for you or that you may be apprehensive about returning. At this t ime, any volunteer who has been given a low or medium r isk assessment resul t can return to thei r role as long as thei r supervisors have conf i rmed that the role has re-started and there is capaci ty to ensure your safety and support . This may mean undertaking regular COVID tests (which wi l l be provided) and wear ing PPE. I f you are high r isk, we are st i l l holding of f on returning you to your role but hope that we can start to do this short ly. However, i f you are carrying out an outside role l ike gardening, we may be able to br ing you back sooner. RETURN I NG TO VOLUNTEER ROLES OR START I NG SOMETH I NG NEW
S P R I NG 2021
THE PATH AHEAD
ORDERING REGULAR RAPID CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) TESTS ONLINE
About one in three people wi th COVID-19 do not have symptoms but can st i l l infect others. Test ing remains a key part of the Government 's roadmap to al low us to safely ease out of lockdown. The Government has therefore made twice weekly rapid testing avai lable to everyone in England – even if they do not have symptoms. NHS England and NHS Improvements (NHSE/ I) Voluntary Partnerships Team recommends that al l volunteers are encouraged to take up this of fer, especial ly those support ing staf f and pat ients in face to face roles. We al ready have regular test ing arrangements local ly for staf f and, where necessary, volunteers who have returned to thei r roles. Al ternat ively, volunteers can order rapid tests onl ine. They can be del ivered to a home address, col lected from a local pharmacy or test si te, or volunteers may at tend a rapid lateral f low test si te. They can f ind more informat ion on the NHS websi te. Sel f-administered test resul ts are avai lable wi thin 30 minutes and volunteers test ing posi t ive wi l l have to sel f- isolate along wi th anyone they l ive wi th. Volunteers who develop COVID-19 symptoms or have come into contact wi th someone who has tested posi t ive should immediately sel f- isolate and seek a free PCR test ei ther by post or at a test si te. Find informat ion on how to get tested i f you have symptoms on the Government websi te.
S P R I NG 2021
Thank you for your ongoing support to Oxford Heal th NHS Foundat ion Trust . Members of the communi ty volunteer ing to support our services is an important part of ensur ing communi ty involvement and engagement . Through the last year, we have not been able to host as many roles as usual due to the pandemic and, as restr ict ions now start to change, we thought i t would be a good opportuni ty to make sure our roles are matched to your ski l ls in the best way. This doesn' t mean we wi l l be asking you to change role or that we wi l l have new roles to meet the wide var iety of ski l ls you may have but i t might be a chance to explore new opportuni t ies. The audi t should only take a few minutes to complete but i f you have any quest ions or quer ies, please contact us at volunteer ing@oxfordheal th.nhs.uk. Thank you again. VOLUNTEER AUD I T - HELP I NG TO MATCH YOUR SK I LLS TO OUR PROJECTS
Please access the l ink to complete the assessment . ht tps: / / forms.of f ice.com/r/yr1egsNnuj
volunteering@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
@OxHealthCharity
/OxfordHealthCharity
/oxford-health-charity
www.oxfordhealth.charity
Get Involved-Volunteering
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