What you may not realise is that these services are staffed by volunteers from the WRVS.

As well as working in the hospital, the charity's volunteers also run the Meals on Wheels service locally, and provide support to the emergency services when they are responding to an incident.

In 2004, the organisation's name was changed from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service to WRVS in an attempt to modernise the image and to recognise that 11 per cent of its volunteers are men.

Now, the Falkirk branch wants to get more young volunteers to join its ranks.

Stephen Rennie, WRVS's regional operations manager, said: "I don't think people even realise that the shop and tea bar in the hospital are managed by volunteers.

"Volunteering gives different things to different people – a lot of people get companionship from it.

"It definitely fills a gap for people, such as those who have retired early but still wants to do something with their life or someone who has

lost their husband or wife and wants to get their confidence back.''
Some volunteers do one day a month while others do three or four shifts every week.

Irene Welsh, project manager for FDRI, said: "I have a list of 78 people who volunteer on a regular basis, from age 17 to 85!

"They all do different things, from helping with administration and counting the money, to serving in the shop or tea bar.

"All the skills that people have in their regular lives can be used by them as volunteers.

"We have people from all walks of life.

"People who have had professional jobs in the past, or who have worked in the health service and come back and do some volunteering.

"There are also people who have had a lot of illness and received support from the hospital, and come in to give something back.

"It can also be helpful for people who have been out of work for a while and want to get back into the way of it again.

"But we could do with a bit more flexibility and we would really like to encourage some younger people to come and join us – it's a really useful thing to be able to put on a CV or application form."

Some young people have already been involved through Duke of Edinburgh awards or Girls Brigade badges, but a bigger injection of youth will ensure the service is able to continue for years to come.

June Kemp has been volunteering for eight years.

She said: "I had had a very busy job and retired.

"I was looking for something with the public, and in the community.

"I felt this was one way to give something back, and I love it.

"I love meeting people which is the main thing.

"I also like being able to help people who maybe need a cup of tea if they've had bad news – you need to be sympathetic, without being interfering.

"We're here if people want to talk, but equally if they don't, we just leave them be."

If you're looking for a more adrenaline fuelled volunteering role, the emergency side of the WRVS could be the place for you.

When emergency services are called out to a fire or crime scene, the WRVS emergency vehicle is not far behind.

On board, volunteers provide hot drinks and snacks for firefighters and police officers.

For example, the WRVS was on hand at the Maddiston Primary School blaze, for 16 hours – with six volunteers and two managers serving over 210 people.

Volunteers also help with the siren testing in Grangemouth, by quizzing the public to ensure they know why the siren is sounding, and what they should do.

If floral tributes are left at accident or murder scenes, it is often the WRVS who clear up the toys and either clean them and give them to the family or to a charity of their choice.

Any cards or messages left are put into an album for the family.

Margaret Cort, emergency services manager for South of Scotland, said: "The very nature of this work means it can be three in the afternoon, or three in the morning.

"It can be something that lasts two hours, or two days – you can never tell.

"You don't commit to a particular day or time with the emergency services, you just agree to come if you are called – but that also doesn't mean that you will come everytime you're called, because it's not always convenient.

"Volunteers commit to a four hour shift – but most of them don't want to go away once they've arrived – it's quite difficult to persuade them that they can go home!

"Once they get that adrenaline, they want to stay until the end!''

"You get these big tough firemen coming into the support unit for a cup of tea, and it just brings a bit of normality to the situation.

"If they're at something pretty grim, it can help soften the horror."
If you would like to volunteer with the WRVS, contact Irene Welsh on (01324) 624000.

WRVS was initially formed to help civilians during the Second World War – in evacuation, emergency feeding and providing general care and support. Since then, its services have evolved and it is now a major service provider giving practical help, particularly for older people.

In the last few years, WRVS has reviewed its portfolio of services via an extensive research programme that took into account the views of key stakeholders, including customers, clients in local authorities and NHS staff, plus its own volunteers and employees.
nIn February 2002 WRVS launched its mission – 'to help people maintain independence and dignity in their homes and communities, particularly in later life' – and a new look, vision and organisational values were introduced in March 2004.

WRVS continues to provide support at emergency incidents across the UK. In recent years these have included floods and foot and mouth crisis, Selby, Paddington and Potters Bar rail incidents, providing refreshments to the thousands that visited HM The Queen Mother as her body lay in state in Westminster Hall in 2002 and, more recently, supporting rescuers after the London bombings, and the flooding incidents in Boscastle and Carlisle.

In Scotland, WRVS has 11,500 volunteers. Every week they help over 14,000 older people stay independent and get more out of life. A total of £884,000 raised in hospital shops and cafés was gifted to improve facilities and patient care in Scottish hospitals.


j.marjoribanks@falkirkherald.co.uk