Five highly experienced and caring volunteers have joined the Chaplaincy Team at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).
Reverend Tony Ford, Vicar at St Mark’s Church in Barrow and Chaplain for Barrow Raiders rugby league team and Reverend Philip Dorling from Cumbria, who was furloughed from his job as Lead Chaplain at Scargill House Christian Community in North Yorkshire earlier this year, have both spoken of their eagerness to volunteer with the UHMBT Chaplaincy Team.
Reverend Ruth Crossley, Carol Kelly and Reverend Aimee Lynch have also joined the Chaplaincy Team as volunteers.
Philip was born in Vancouver, raised in Canada, Kenya, Kent and Oxfordshire and has lived in Cumbia since 2005.
He is volunteering at the Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal and said he wanted to help the NHS and the nation in any way he could during the pandemic.
Philip said: “As a furloughed person I just feel the need to be helpful.
“I can see that the NHS has to be careful about using volunteers with the situation we are in at the moment. I feel that the Chaplaincy Team has been very thorough and professional in making us aware of the challenges and in equipping us for the role. The Chaplaincy Team has been lovely. It has been a pleasure meeting them.”
Philip said his approach to volunteering and helping patients involves being there for people and listening carefully: “It is all about being ‘with’ people; patients and staff at the hospital.
“I feel it is about smiling and positivity as well as being a person who is available to do some careful listening during this strange time.”
Philip said his employers at Scargill House had been wonderfully supportive and his family and friends think it is a good thing to be involved with.
He explained: “We are all so grateful for all the NHS has done to help the nation through the pandemic.
“I think we have all been very moved by the courage that NHS employees have shown.
“Going into hospitals to prepare to be a volunteer, I have been quietly moved to tears by the sight of the staff just getting on with their work; smiling as they walk around. Well done and, if I allowed to say so, ‘God bless you for all you have done’.”
Tony, who is originally from Oldham in Lancashire and now lives in Barrow, also holds the NHS in high regard. He said he had seen the amazing work done by the Chaplaincy Team at Barrow and felt he could offer some time to support that ministry.
Tony said he was especially keen to work at the current time to help with the Trust’s coronavirus (COVID-19) response: “It’s at times like this we need to pull together even more and so I look forward to helping in some way.”
Tony said his approach to Chaplaincy is to care for all alike: “As a Christian, we are called to love God and our neighbour. Neighbour being everyone, no matter whether of Christian faith, other faith or no faith at all.”
Tony added the following message for everyone working in the NHS: “I think we are all so proud of the NHS and the sacrificial way so many staff have served throughout the country during this horrific time.
“Hopefully the worst is over but if there are future spikes I’m sure with everyone pulling together, things will be fine.”
Ian Dewar, Lead Chaplain for UHMBT, said: “Our new volunteers are a fantastic addition to our Chaplaincy Team.
“Chaplaincy volunteers can undertake various tasks including ward visits, leading acts of worship, linking with the local community and home visits.
“They give a lot and they get a lot out of it. In my experience, Chaplaincy volunteers see it as a vocation. They bring a great deal and learn a great deal.
“I would like to welcome and thank all of our new volunteers for their kindness and dedication to our patients and their loved ones. Our team is enriched by their presence.”
For more information about the Chaplaincy Team at UHMBT, please go to this link: https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/our-services/services/chaplaincy
