Good Hope Hospital is looking for volunteers to get involved with its successful Memory Lane project on its elderly care wards.

Memory Lane is a volunteer-led project and aims to combine art and craft activities and conversation to enable elderly patients to recall happy memories from yesteryear.  Volunteers encourage patients to participate in a range of simple arts activities, from making ‘button flowers’ to compiling scrap books using old pictures of film actors and musicians, as well as inspiring them to reminisce about historically significant events throughout their lives.

Gareth Shaw, ward manager for ward 11 at Good Hope Hospital, said: “The volunteers do a tremendous job and I am so proud of them. They are very much part of the ward team and the contribution they make to patients’ well-being is remarkable. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers and would welcome people who would like to help out to come and join us.”

Hospital volunteer service adviser, Angela Butts, adds: “Bringing patients together in groups with volunteers always makes for a stimulating, sociable and friendly gathering. This leads to patients communicating with each other, smiling and sharing memories of days gone by.  The benefit to patients’ well-being is significant and immeasurable.”

If you would like to become a volunteer and get involved with the project at Good Hope Hospital, please contact Angela at angela.j.butts@heartofengland.nhs.uk or on 0121 424 7379.