Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s Voluntary Services team is raising money for a much-loved volunteer.
Stevie Matthews, who volunteered at St George’s Park from 2019, sadly passed away last year aged 71.
And now, the Trust is raising money in her memory. Funds raised will go towards two worthy causes. One is the purchase of a memorial bench, commissioned by the woodwork department at Northgate Park, which will be on Memorial Avenue at St George’s Park.
The second is for the Trust’s SHINE charity, which Stevie contributed to so generously during her time as a volunteer.
Head of Volunteer Involvement Wendy Spratt said: “If you were fortunate to get to know Stevie or even met her briefly, in an instant, you would be touched by her kindness, positivity and the genuine interest she would have in you.
“She was a very genuine, caring and kind lady, who also had a great sense of humour.”
Stevie had given her time to a number of CNTW services. Over the years, she had been a chapel volunteer and a ward support volunteer in the Trust’s inpatient services, as well as supporting one-off projects. She even volunteered at the Covid-19 vaccination centre at St George’s Park during the pandemic.
“Stevie always spoke fondly of her time as a volunteer and was immensely proud to be part of something special,” Wendy added.
“She would often talk about the fantastic staff she had the pleasure of helping and how grateful she was to be able to help our patients in any way she could.
“We would be so grateful if anyone can donate at this time, no matter how small.”
Stevie was also an active runner, completing marathons and ultra marathons across the world, including Antarctica and the North Pole. Her proudest moment was when she had the honour of being a torchbearer through Sheepwash Road in Northumberland for the 2012 Olympics.
The Voluntary Services team will be running a number of stalls during Volunteers’ Week at different Trust sites to raise funds. There will be a tombola, guess the name of the teddy and ‘volunteer pong’ game.
Volunteers’ Week runs from 3rd-9th June and this year is the 40th anniversary of the celebration. The week celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. It’s a chance to recognise and thank the UK’s volunteers for all they give to the voluntary sector, and to society as a whole.
CNTW’s volunteers offer social and therapeutic support to service users on a ward or within a day service, support staff in areas such as the chaplaincy, occupational therapy teams across inpatient services and corporate teams, and provide practical assistance in activities such as the hospital shop and gardening and woodwork projects.
On Tuesday 4th June, volunteers across the region will be recognised at a service at Newcastle Cathedral. More information about the service can be found here.