2023-04-13T14:41:21+00:00

Volunteer spotlight: meet Anne Brown

This is Anne Brown, a regular volunteer at Roxburghe House.

The later stages of a fulfilling career as a staff nurse found her working as a nurse on the ward in Roxburghe House before her retirement in 2015.

So to Anne, it was a natural progression to become a volunteer as she still wanted to help patients.

She works in the day unit on Tuesdays mornings, and every alternate Monday you’ll find her on reception. Not content with that, she also serves on the Friends board of trustees.

“I enjoy it because I’m giving something back,” said Anne.

“I know this sounds like a real cliché but it’s true. I enjoy helping people and like seeing someone smile. It also gives me the chance to meet up with some of the nursing team and catch up with them.”

Once a week, you’ll find Anne, 67, preparing the coffee and rolls in the day unit, where she welcomes the patients and chats to them about what they’ve been up to.

She also works closely with the nursing team, which is an important part of her role. Alongside that, Anne helps set up for lunch and sometimes will also help with sessions. These could be anything from exercise sessions to talks by multi-disciplinary experts.

Sometimes she joins in with the art sessions “although I’m no artist”, she laughs.

“All the patients have a different story to tell,” she said.

“I do have to pull myself back from my nursing background and remember I’m there as a volunteer, and ask one of the nurses.”

And why should you volunteer?

“If you have the time, and if you enjoy speaking to people and helping them, I’d definitely recommend it.,” said Anne.

“And it’s a two-way thing, I really enjoy it myself. And Roxburghe House is such a nice environment to volunteer in.”

Find out more about becoming a volunteer at Roxburghe House.

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