A TEAM of dedicated volunteers aged between 40 and 86 have devoted 2,500 hours of their time to help Barnsley Hospital Charity.

The 15-strong group have gone from strength to strength over the past year, striving to find new ways to help patients.

The volunteers get involved in a host of activities ranging from running stalls in the hospital, knitting toys, supporting the running of the Barnsley Hospital Charity hub, helping pack discharge packs for patients and packs for relatives whose loved ones are on end-of-life care, as well as plenty more.

According to Barnsley Hospital Charity’s development manager, Jane Mills, ‘the list is endless’.

She went on to say: “A particular highlight of the team is the fact that between them they have devoted over 2,500 hours of their time and raised £12,524 on their weekly fundraising stalls in a year.

“The team have great camaraderie and support each other both professionally and personally - all of them report how much they enjoy supporting the charity.

“In addition to their collective volunteering they individually have done wingwalks, skydives, firewalks and glass and cold water dipping.”

David Armitage, 66, who’s been volunteering at the hospital for around six years, added that he ‘absolutely loves the work’.

“For the first few years I was just doing meet-and-greet in the outpatient facility,” he said.

“But then when the pandemic started there was a lot of volunteers who were over 70 or vulnerable and couldn’t come in anymore so the volunteer force was decimated.

“Since I could come in I ended up getting involved with the hospital charity as well - that now takes up about 80 per cent of my time.

“It’s all about fundraising for the hospital - we run tombola stalls and organise events with skydives or firewalks, I even get involved sometimes.”

With an unwavering commitment to their work, and no signs of slowing down, the volunteers have been put forward as Hospital Heroes at this year’s Proud of Barnsley.

“It’s great for the staff and patients alike, and we really try to do amazing things,” David added.

“I work around the hospital so I get feedback from everyone and I know how much the charity’s work is appreciated.

“This nomination helps give recognition to the things that everyone’s doing - I know they’re doing good things but hopefully more people will now as well.

“I enjoy it so much, it’s great putting on the uniform and going down to help.

“I love it.”