Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity has launched its first-ever corporate volunteering programme, creating a new way for businesses and organisations to support their local NHS while helping improve the hospital environment for patients, visitors and colleagues.

The new initiative supported by DSFS, will provide structured volunteering opportunities throughout the year, including gardening, litter picking and environmental improvement projects across the hospital site. The programme represents a significant milestone for the Charity, creating new partnerships between the NHS, local businesses and the wider community.

Leading the way is Auto Windscreens, which has become the first organisation to sign up to the programme, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the communities it serves.

The Charity is also pleased to announce support from Spear and Jackson’s of Sheffield, who have generously provided equipment free of charge to support volunteers carrying out activities across the hospital grounds. The Charity has expressed its sincere thanks for this early contribution and is inviting other businesses and partners to consider how they may be able to support the programme through donations, expertise, equipment or volunteer time.

As well as corporate opportunities, the Charity is also encouraging members of the public interested in volunteering to get in touch and find out more about its wider volunteering opportunities.

Jayne Stringfellow, Non-Executive Director and Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity, said: “This is an exciting and important moment for our Charity. For the first time, we’re creating dedicated opportunities for businesses to support Chesterfield Royal Hospital through practical volunteering projects that will make a visible difference to our environment and the experience of patients, visitors and colleagues.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Auto Windscreens for becoming our first corporate volunteer partner and to the supplier who has kindly provided equipment free of charge to help get the programme off the ground. Their support demonstrates the strength of community spirit across our region and what can be achieved when organisations come together to support their NHS.

“We hope many other businesses, organisations and individuals will follow their lead. Whether you can offer volunteers, equipment, expertise or fundraising support, there are many ways to help us make an even bigger difference.”

The programme forms part of the Charity’s wider commitment to strengthening community partnerships and creating new opportunities for people to support projects and initiatives that go above and beyond NHS funding.

Julie Cobb, Contact Centre Manager at Auto Windscreens, said: “We are delighted to be the first company to join Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity’s new corporate volunteering programme. The hospital plays such an important role in the lives of people across our region and we wanted to support it in a practical and meaningful way.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our colleagues to give something back, work together as a team and support a cause that touches so many people. We hope our involvement encourages other businesses to get involved and support this excellent initiative.”

Volunteer sessions will take place throughout the year, with opportunities available across the week. In addition to gardening and environmental projects, volunteers may also have opportunities to support fundraising activities such as bag packs and bucket collections.

Volunteering is already underway with several colleagues from Auto Windscreens working with DSFS (Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services) colleagues to support the maintenance and tidiness of some of our courtyards around site, using tools that were kindly donated by Spear and Jackson.

Andrew Tomlinson, DSFS Deputy Head of Estates, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to build strong foundations throughout the local community that we care for. Thank you to Auto Windscreens – I am glad that we here at Estates have been given the opportunity to be involved in this initiative and hope all the volunteers enjoy themselves and feel great sense of pride knowing they are helping both DSFS and the NHS. I’d also like to thank Spear and Jackson for the tools they donated to support us.”

Get involved

Businesses, organisations and members of the public interested in volunteering or supporting Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity can find out more by visiting: https://www.chesterfieldroyal.nhs.uk/our-charity. Alternatively, people can contact the Charity team directly to discuss volunteering opportunities, corporate partnerships and ways to support the hospital.

Jayne added: “This programme is about more than simply volunteering. It’s about creating lasting partnerships, building pride in our local NHS and giving people the opportunity to make a tangible difference. We’re hugely grateful to those who have already stepped forward and we’d love to hear from others who want to join us on this journey.”

Pictured are DSFS colleagues, along with volunteers from Auto Windscreens