UHB's youngest and longest-serving volunteers came together at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) to help commemorate a landmark achievement in the history of volunteering.

This year is the 30th anniversary of National Volunteers' Week, marking the time when volunteering organisations from across the UK came together in 1984 to celebrate the vital contribution they make.

UHB, which has 600 volunteers in a variety of roles, celebrated the occasion with a display stand in the atrium of QEHB from June 2 to 4.

And among those present was the longest-serving volunteer at the Trust, Shaunagh Wand, who has been a volunteer for 42 years having joined the Friends of the QE Medical Centre in 1972.

She was joined by 20-year-old Imogen Chappelow, a medical student at University of Birmingham who began volunteering in September 2012 when she joined the Young Person's Council.

And, also invited along was Wendy Marks, treasurer of the Friends of QE, who began volunteering at the hospital 30 years ago.

The stand consisted of posters and leaflets, plus other activities including a tea party demonstration to show the contribution volunteers make to Dignity in Care.

Other events to do with the 30 anniversary included a multi-faith service in the Faith Centre to celebrate and thank the Trust's volunteers for their efforts.

Carol Rawlings, Associate Director of Patient Affairs at UHB, said their volunteers collectively make a huge difference to patients at the hospital, from welcoming visitors to driving a patient transport buggy.

She said: "This event is an ideal opportunity for us to celebrate the wonderful contribution which our volunteers make."

Shaunagh, who is aged 83, said: "The reason I started volunteering was because I couldn't do part-time nursing back then. I wanted to continue nursing but was involved in looking after my husband, who had been a doctor in Balsall Heath."

She said she started volunteering by raising money to buy television sets and amenities for patients and staff.

Imogen said: "The main thing I have been involved in is a Buddy scheme where I go onto wards and chat to younger patients and keep them company. I was in hospital after breaking my ankle last year so realise first hand how boring it can be."

Anyone interested in joining the volunteers at UHB can contact Volntary Services.

• Telephone: 0121 371 6731
• Email: voluntary.services@uhb.nhs.uk