Hundreds of volunteers supporting North Wales vaccination programme

Hundreds of volunteers are supporting the North Wales vaccination programme by giving their time to ensure a quick and effective roll-out.

The NHS, trade unions, local authorities, the emergency services and the military are all involved in the programme with volunteers on hand to help out where possible.

In North Wales, there are three Mass Vaccination Centres where more than 200 volunteers have collectively given over 6,500 hours to.

Shelagh Roberts, a retired nurse, has been volunteering at Deeside Rainbow Hospital to support former colleagues and the wider community since the beginning of January.

“I just think it’s important to do something to help. I wanted to be involved and I wanted to give something back,” she said. “I felt that we’ve got to just hit this and do something so I was really glad to have the opportunity.

“People are so grateful and it’s good to feel part of the team. Everybody who works here shows their gratitude and they don’t put on you – it’s nice to feel part of something so big.”

Susan Ridings, from Gwernaffield, is one of nearly 500 people recruited from a 30-mile radius of Wrexham to take part in an ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trial.

She is also one of more than 90 volunteers who regularly support Deeside Rainbow Hospital.

She said: “It was just after Christmas when I appreciated there would be a huge number of people needed to support the vaccination programme and I just couldn’t sit at home knowing that I could be doing something useful.

“Some people really haven’t been out of the house since last March. Some of them have been shielding and it’s their first trip out, so they can be quite nervous because of that.

“We reassure them that there are social distancing and infection prevention measures in place. Some people are also nervous about having the vaccine so I relay my own family’s experiences. My mum is 90 and she was perfectly well after having it.”

The COVID-19 vaccination volunteering schemes are funded by the North Wales NHS charity, Awyr Las, thanks to donations from locals and NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal.

To find out more about Awyr Las’ work, visit: https://awyrlas.org.uk/.

If you are interested in volunteering to support the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in North Wales, email [email protected].

(Pictured left to right is Shelagh Roberts and Susan Ridings)