TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY, 2023

Photographs attached: 1 – Nameera and Mehmet 2 – Asto and Eugene 3 – Cameron 4 – Neha

Saltire Awards presented to young NHS Tayside volunteers

Fourteen NHS Tayside volunteers have been presented with a national award which recognises the commitment and contribution of young people in volunteering.

NHS Tayside volunteers aged between 16 and 25 can sign up to the Saltire Award to record their hours and learning gained through volunteering placements and claim certificates for key milestones.

Saltire Award certificates were presented to the following volunteers for their volunteering efforts in acute services in Ninewells Hospital:

10 hours

Lina Aoubala – ward 19

Shahd Bedair – ward 4

Fatima Fazea – ward 6

25 hours

Iqra Altat – ward 27

Mehmet Cetinkaya – ward 4

Nameera Hasan – ward 4

Bita Hope – ward 19

Imaan Hussain – ward 18

Neha Kuriakose – ward 26

Kyla Li - ward 4

Asto Tanaka – ward 6

Eugene Tanaka - ward 6

Cameron Yule - ward 26

50 hours

Kacey Tait – ward 1

Mehmet Cetinkaya and Nameera Hasan both volunteer in ward 4, chatting with patients, playing games with them and helping with the tea and coffee service.

Both Mehmet and Nameera are really enjoying their volunteering role and feel their communication skills have increased as a result of their volunteering and they now feel less worried about speaking to new people.

Speaking about his volunteering experience in ward 26, Cameron Yule, who will begin his nursing studies at university in September said, “Volunteering has been an amazing experience which has allowed me to get an insight into the wards and continue my journey into nursing. It has been fantastic to see how everyone works together on a ward and they made me feel part of that team too.

“Chatting to the patients has increased my confidence greatly and I no longer have the fear I had initially. From the first day on the ward I was made to feel really welcome, safe and valued as a volunteer. At the end of each shift, the ward staff thank me for my support that day and I feel my volunteering is appreciated.”

Neha Kuriakose, who also volunteers in ward 26 said, “I am surprised how quickly I have reached 25 hours. I am enjoying talking to the patients and helping out with the tea and coffee service. I feel that volunteering is good preparation for my future career in dentistry and I feel much more comfortable talking to people now.”

Voluntary Services Manager Val Ewan said, “We are grateful to all volunteers who give their time to NHS Tayside. I would like to recognise these volunteers who have reached Saltire milestones. They all do this whilst studying at school or further education with many of them hoping to follow a career in healthcare. We look forward to recognising the next milestone award with them.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718