STUDENTS from Hopwood Hall College are the latest recruits for NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s volunteer programme.

The scheme, which has taken on 70 volunteers so far, aims to improve health services and give participants the chance to give something back to the community.

Over the past couple of months, the students have helped with the Trust’s ‘cancer chancer’ campaign, handed out leaflets to members of the public and they plan to get even more involved as they study for their health and social care examinations.

Dr Nick Dawes, the Trust’s medical director, said: "We work hard to improve the health and wellbeing of every person living in the borough and volunteers are vital to helping us achieve this.

"The scheme’s only been running a few months and we have a great amount of volunteers helping to enhance our services and assist us in improving and developing the care we give."

Amy Gibbons, a volunteer coordinator, added: "Anyone can take part in volunteering. You don’t need qualifications and the Trust will provide all the support and training you need. The time you give is flexible and depends entirely on what you can offer us.

"Our volunteers come from a variety of different cultural groups and backgrounds, with the teams being made up of former patients and staff; students and members of the local community.

"We are finding that people are volunteering for a variety of different reasons. For some, it’s the opportunity to give something back to the community or a way of saying thank you for a good service they have received, while for others, it gives them the opportunity to develop their confidence and skills."

The Trust is appealing for volunteers to help run health centres, clinics and deliver services, as well as attending health promotion events and chaperoning patients.

For more information, contact Amy Gibbons on 652884 or e-mail amy.gibbons@hmrpct.nhs.uk.