Hampshire and Isle of Wight VCSE Health and Care Alliance (HIVCA) is working with NHS partners as one of just 15 partnerships nationwide to take part in the Volunteering for Health project, known locally as Community Health Action Together (CHAT).
Funded through a collaboration between NHS England and CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the CHAT project is all about strengthening the infrastructure and collaboration needed so that every patient, staff member and volunteer can benefit from the power of volunteering.
Volunteers can make all the difference to someone’s healthcare experience, from offering a listening ear, to supporting patients and families at critical moments. This programme is designed to help us unlock that potential across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by;
- Building stronger systems and partnerships between the NHS and the voluntary sector
- Sharing learning nationally to shape the future of volunteering in health and care
- Supporting innovation so that volunteering makes the greatest possible impact for patients, communities and staff
Chis Easton, Director of Strategy and Impact at NHS England, explained, “The Volunteering for Health programme is about unlocking the power of volunteering across health and care, and ensuring that everyone, whether patient, staff member or volunteer can benefit from that”.
You can find out more about the project by watching the video (link at the bottom of the page).
We’re proud that HIVCA is part of this exciting journey, working alongside NHS partners and community organisations to develop new ways of involving volunteers in health and care.
We’ll be sharing updates as the project develops, including opportunities for VCSE organisations to get involved.
