Volunteering couple love making a difference
Date of release: 23 July 2024
A couple who have celebrated 40 years of marriage have now got volunteering in common too as both help out at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Gurpal and Kinder Matharu celebrating their 40 year anniversary
Gurpal and Kinder Matharu have always wanted to “give back” and have been volunteering across wards at New Cross Hospital over the past 18 months.
The retired grandparents find themselves helping on the Staff Wellbeing Hub, Renal Home Therapies, elderly wards, and the West Park Rehabilitation Arts Programme.
Kinder was previously a Pharmacy Assistant and has always praised the NHS.
She said: “I worked within the NHS for years, so when I retired and stepped back from my business, I knew I would give back and volunteer.
“My favourite thing about volunteering is making a difference, seeing the patients smile and helping the staff with additional duties.”
Gurpal is “thankful” for being able do something useful for his local community and looks forward to his volunteering duties after stepping back from a long career including 12 years’ service with the Royal Air Force and being a Sales Director at a medical equipment company.
“Being involved with the NHS and its wonderful staff gave me the confidence to put myself forward for a volunteering role, he said.
Kinder and Gurpal are proud parents of a daughter and son, both born at New Cross Hospital, and were recently blessed with a grandson.
“We both love the NHS and the wonderful people that dedicate their lives to it. We wanted to do something to help support it too,” they said.
“The Volunteer Support Team is wonderful and gave us all the help to become volunteers and take care of any day to day support we may need.
“We have always shared the same hobbies and music interests and the secret to 40 years of marriage is that there is no secret - just wake up feeling blessed every day!”
The Volunteering Team at RWT surprised them with a cake and balloon to mark their anniversary as well as the national celebration of 40 years of volunteering.
Ashleigh Key, Volunteer Co-ordinator at RWT, has supported the couple throughout their volunteering roles.
She said: “They are the epitome of everything that volunteering stands for.
“They have both shown incredible commitment to their roles within the Trust and are always first to put themselves forward for any additional support we may need.
“We are so grateful for their enthusiasm, passion, and fabulous humour that they bring alongside their continued support to our staff and patients.”
If you would like to find out more about volunteering please email: rwh-tr.volunteering@nhs.net.
