Local hospital in search of pianist and gardener!

Staff and service users on the Mary Wilkinson Ward at Dewsbury & District Hospital, which is run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, are searching for two volunteers to visit the ward on a regular basis and make a positive difference to ward life.

The ward, which provides care and treatment for older people with mental health problems, needs one volunteer to play a piano and lift people’s spirits by leading sing-alongs, and another to help take care of the ward’s garden area.

The ward already has one volunteer, Marjorie Todmorden, who plays the piano as often as she can at the ward, but the patients enjoy the sing alongs so much, there is now demand for a second pianist!

With its large courtyard area, the ward also requires a gardener to help tend to the ward’s outside space and keep it in shape for patient’s to enjoy.

The ward’s activities co-ordinator Janet Dransfield said, "Music and singing is a brilliant for getting everyone’s endorphins going and having someone play the piano and get us all singing is great therapy for people on the ward."

She continued, "Having a therapeutic garden area is also good for boosting the wellbeing of patients as they’re able to enjoy the fresh air in attractive surroundings. We need an enthusiastic gardener to maintain the courtyard’s high standards as staff just don’t have the special expertise to keep it all alive and thriving."

The ward would like to hear from keen pianists or gardeners who have some spare time on their hands and could visit the ward at least once a month. This is a good opportunity to do something positive and make a real difference to the lives of older people with mental health problems.

Please contact Janet Dransfield on 01924 816019 if you or anyone you know might be interested. Both volunteers will need to fill out paperwork to be CRB checked, but this will be funded by the Trust.