VOLUNTEER befriender Barry Bendell, who works at Stratton Community Hospital, has won the Volunteer Cornwall, Cornwall Celebrates Volunteering health category award.

There are 100 volunteers working in Peninsula Community Health. The three shortlisted for the award were volunteers working in community hospitals in local communities.

Barry works as part of the Volunteer Befriender Scheme to provide comfort to patients in Stratton Community Hospital. He said: “I have volunteered for other organisations in the past and as a counsellor, I wanted to do something that helped. I first learnt about this role through Volunteer Cornwall and thought it would be ideal to be able to talk to people, as that’s what I do best.

“I find this role incredibly rewarding and there is always support available either from the delightful ward team or from the Volunteer Coordinator. I would encourage anyone who is interested in meeting others or who just wants to sit and listen to find out more and get involved.”

The other finalists for the award, Betty Clemens and June Hackett, were named as ‘highly commended’.

Since working with the charity Volunteer Cornwall in May 2014, Peninsula Community Health has set up a range of volunteer schemes and roles, such as Volunteer Befrienders, like Barry, who visit patients in hospital and in the community who may feel lonely, isolated or vulnerable.

They have also set up spiritual and pastoral volunteers, volunteer meet and greeters and an expert patient programme, which helps people with long-term health conditions to manage their symptoms of pain, fatigue and stress.

Anyone interested in volunteering at one of the community hospital sites or with one of the teams can contact Jenny Wilkinson, from Volunteer Cornwall, on 07968 706106.