A selfless retired Renton dinner lady is helping bring some cheer to wards at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Margaret Owen opened up about the joy she gets from volunteering at the Vale in a bid to get more people involved.
The 70-year-old started volunteering at the Vale at the start of the year, helping with the tea trolley to ensure patients on the elderly care wards get a much-needed cuppa and a blether.
Speaking out for Volunteers Week, Margaret explained: “As I was going to have a bit more free time, I wanted to do something to help others and thought it would be good to give back to the community in some way.
“I was very familiar with the hospital and so I got involved in my role on the older adult wards.”
In the past year, an army of volunteers have clocked up 47,500 hours across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s hospital sites.
They have helped in tasks as varied as helping to improve gardens and greenspace to running the staff rest and relaxation hubs, and supporting teams in rehabilitation work with patients.
Margaret has a busy schedule and when she’s not volunteering at the Vale every Tuesday, she has a part- time job, and also volunteers at a local foodbank cafe, as well as spending valuable time with her grandchildren.
However, she loves the role, adding: “I enjoy interacting with the staff and the patients.
“The staff work so hard and they are so grateful for a bit of support, everyone is so friendly.
“Going to volunteer on the wards can feel a bit daunting, although I was familiar with the ward, volunteering has given me a much greater awareness of the environment and I feel that I am able to understand our older patients and their needs a bit better.
“It feels like I am able to help out and that I am able to make a bit of a difference to the staff and patients.”
Volunteer manager, Harry Balch, said: “Margaret is an absolute star, who is committed to giving something back.
“Like all of our volunteers, the energy, commitment and enthusiasm shown is nothing short of inspirational.”
