AIREDALE Hospital has thanked its hard-working team of volunteers for their dedication and time.

Staff have shared messages of thanks from social media, to ensure volunteers who are at home or shielding know that they are still valued.

The hospital now has more than 350 registered volunteers working in over 30 different areas and roles across the hospital site, including the neonatal unit and the haematology and oncology day unit.

The Friends of Airedale Hospital charity raises funds through its shops, mobile ward trolley service and car boot sales which are all run by volunteers. Proceeds by vital pieces of hospital equipment, and recently have included special cots for the children’s unit.

Gurmit Jauhal, Voluntary Services Manager at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very lucky and blessed to have such a dedicated team of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers in our hospital.

“We will always be extremely thankful for the selfless service and support they give to the hospital, patients and visitors.”

The trust includes a ‘volunteer of the year’ award as part of the annual staff awards, to recognise the importance of their volunteers.

Airedale Hospital also has an army of community volunteers, and staff have themselves raised money during the Covid pandemic.

Lorraine Wass, a healthcare support worker from Airedale Hospital, recently donated £3,000 to the hospital’s community charity after selling rainbow badges to his disputes friends and colleagues.

Lorraine said: “I got the idea for the badges from the pictures that the children were drawing and sending in. At first I just ordered 200 and then the more popular they got I kept ordering 200 at a time.

“I was selling them mainly at work but I know one has gone to Australia and people I know, their friends and family have bought them too.

“I picked the Airedale charity because I work on a Covid ward, I just wanted to give something back. I did it because of the staff, for the fantastic job they are doing.”

Jodie Hearnshaw, Reward, Recognition and Fundraising Manager at the foundation trust, said Lorraine’s badges help spread a little sunshine for everyone.

She added: “We’ve been overwhelmed at how far people are going to support our Care for Airedale campaign, and of course our staff; we’ve already received donations of almost £12,000 in just two months. We can’t thank everyone enough.”