Volunteers from all religions are needed to lend a listening ear to hospital patients across the city.

The Chaplaincy Service at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is multi-faith and is looking for more volunteers to help it reach out more.

It has 73 volunteers so far catering for people’s spiritual needs, regardless of faith or none, while they are in hospital.

Head of Chaplaincy, Mohammed Arshad, said: “The Trust employs seven chaplains representing all major religions in the city, but we also need an enthusiastic, caring team of volunteer visitors to help supplement our work in providing pastoral healthcare.

“Our service plays an integral part in improving the experience of patients by being there for them in their hour of need - whether that is by providing a listening ear, words of encouragement or fulfilling religious and pastoral support when required."

And he added: "Nursing and medical staff provide the clinical support for patients but the Chaplaincy team provides holistic support and wellbeing. For many this is a vital source of comfort during their stay with us. The Chaplaincy volunteers support the chaplaincy team by visiting patients for a few hours every week, to show support and encouragement."

To be a volunteer you need to be aged 17 and over, and be able to give at least two to three hours every week to the hospital. All volunteers must undergo a training course, led by the hospital chaplains, before they can work on the Trust’s wards.

Hospital chaplain Maryam Riaz, said: “The Chaplains deliver a thorough training programme to equip potential volunteers with the essential skills that are required for visiting patients. This includes vital listening skills, how to provide general support to people in a variety of different situations that might occur during their hospital stay, understanding religion and spirituality from different faiths, and an introduction to providing bereavement support.”

Previous chaplaincy volunteers have won awards in recognition for the kindness, commitment and dedication they have shown across the Trust’s hospitals to its patients.

In December, chaplaincy volunteer Kath Duree was named the Trust’s Volunteer of the Year for her work on ward F6 at St Luke’s Hospital.

The retired grandma used to work supporting adults with learning difficulties and became interested in becoming a volunteer after visiting her ill mum-in-law.

“I noticed that there were many elderly people who never seemed to have visitors and I thought that was such a shame. It’s a pleasure being a volunteer because I meet such lovely people. Many of them have suffered strokes and they are so brave and positive about their rehabilitation. I also work with dementia patients and I love reminiscing with them,” she said.

Any one interested in becoming a chaplaincy volunteer, should contact Dawn Arnison on 01274-365819 or email dawn.arnison@bthft.nhs.uk.

The Trust will be running a four-day induction course for volunteers on October 3 to October 7, 9.30am-4pm at St Luke’s Hospital.