Valuing Volunteers: Spotlighting our Star Supporters
BCHC Charity’s mission is to enhance patient care, improve their experience, and support Team BCHC colleagues by funding items and initiatives that go above and beyond core NHS funding. We are only able to do this thanks to the fantastic support we get from donors, fundraisers, and volunteers. In the last few months alone, we have had over 70 volunteers from 7 different companies, taking the total number of hours given by corporate volunteers to 1,450!
This Volunteers Week, we shine a spotlight onto one of our corporate star supporters; Nasima Mulla from Aston University.
Nasima’s volunteering journey began with an event at her employer, where she sold handcrafted gift items from her ‘Missi Mulla’ stall. Rose Amato, the Regional Engagement Manager for Aston University, was impressed with her stall and let Nasima know that the University offers 2 volunteering days with local charities, including BCHC Charity. Nasima first volunteered for us in December 2023, supporting the Charity Team at our Winter Wellbeing session at Priestley Wharf. She also chose to set up a Missi Mulla stall there and donated the £65 proceeds to the charity after the event; “It was a pleasure supporting BCHC Charity by promoting the charity and selling goodies, raffle tickets, and homemade gifts.” Since then, Nasima has volunteered at two other engagement events, supporting the set up and promotion of BCHC Charity and raising a further £275 from sales of her gifts.
Nasima, along with others from Aston University, DWF Law and Tesco, also supported the launch event for the Direct Access to Wellbeing Services (DAWs) Team by setting up informational resource envelopes and packing gift bags for attendees, and has twice volunteered at Sutton Cottage Hospital packing our Winter Wellbeing Bags for vulnerable patients. She says, “I packed the bags with a group of other volunteers from Aston University, and that was something really nice to do… it made me feel I was doing something for the community.”
Volunteering is vital for BCHC Charity; without the support of our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to deliver as many projects, or complete projects in a timely manner. Vanisha Mistry, BCHC Charity’s Corporate Volunteer Co-ordinator, explains how volunteering is also a great boost for the people who do it; “Whilst volunteering allows us to do more, it also helps people gain new skills, valuable work experience, and improve their confidence. Volunteering gives people the opportunity to give something back to the local community and creates a sense of belonging. It can help people feel less isolated in their surroundings and form meaningful connections with the people around them.”
In addition to her volunteering work with us, Nasima has also run 3 stationery drives, helping to provide 9 boxes of stationery items worth over £300 for the Enhanced Care Team at West Heath Hospital and Children’s Palliative Care Team to use to keep patients entertained during hospital stays and clinic appointments. She also organised a toy collection, donating £125 worth of children’s toys and games to the Specialist Health Visitors services.
“Me volunteering and helping has also helped my husband out, which is a nice feeling. While chatting to the DAWs Team, I told them my home situation with my husband, and we got an appointment to see them... The amount of information, support, guidance, and understanding we got from both team members Adam and Rebecca was very helpful!’
Nasima was featured in Aston University’s volunteer case study video during Volunteer’s Week last year, which you can watch on the Aston University staff volunteering webpage . In it, Nasima details why volunteering is so important to her; “I would encourage anyone to volunteer. It’s a good feeling you get for yourself, and then you’re helping someone else as well.”
Sarah Binks, Charity Manager, encourages others to get involved; “We want to thank every single one of the 488 corporate volunteers that have supported us over the last few years, and would love to hear from any companies wanting to learn more about the volunteer experiences we offer.” If you would like to know more about our corporate volunteering offer and do a group volunteer day with your workplace or university, please get in touch, or visit our Volunteering For Us page for more information.