'Incredible' support from army of volunteers at St Andrew's Healthcare during coronavirus crisis

St Andrew's Healthcare has paid tribute to its 'army' of helpers who have supported the charity through the coronavirus pandemic for Volunteers' Week.

Many of the 300 volunteers at the Northampton-based mental health provider have been unable to do their usual tasks but they have been still been helping in any way they can.

Voluntary services manager Dawn Wright said: “The support we’ve received from our army of volunteers throughout this pandemic has been absolutely incredible.

"From baking cakes to writing letters and sending food parcels, each and every person has contributed to helping our patients and staff through what has been a really difficult period.”

One of the oldest volunteers at St Andrew's is 90-year-old Mary Oxley, who has been helping at the Billing Road hospital for the last 15 years.

Due to the lockdown, she has been unable to visit the hospital as she normally does every week so she has been writing weekly to both patients and staff and her three grandchildren have delivered homemade cakes.

In one of her recent letters, Mary said: “To all you incredibly brave, caring, dedicated people. Each day is one day less until we find a way to treat/control the virus.

"Keep strong, stay safe. You are much loved, valued and respected. I look forward to being back with you all.”

Peggy Sue has also been communicating to patients through a long-forgotten form of correspondence: being a penpal to patients and regularly calling the wards to keep in touch.

“I've already gained a lot from my original volunteering role but nothing compared to answering the call for letters, cards and posters to help support everyone at the rock face during coronavirus,” she said.

And it is not just humans who have been playing their part. St Andrew’s has several pets as therapy animals who normally come on-site to visit patients.

During the coronavirus, one of their owners, Chris Yates, has instead decided to send in letters to patients about the story of each of his 14 dogs.

Two of his dogs, Lilly and Jake, have been visiting St Andrew’s for the last eight years and are very well known to both patients and staff.

To find out more about how to get involved in volunteering at St Andrew’s, visit stah.org/careers/volunteering.