Northern Trust celebrates volunteers with special ‘thank you’ event

Four women stand in front of a table, preparing to cut a large cake.

Volunteers from across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust have been celebrated at a special thank you event held during Volunteers’ Week.

The Trust’s vital volunteer community is made up of 250 people who generously give their time and skills to make a difference every day.

With 18 different roles across 35 areas of the Trust, volunteers play a significant role in enhancing the experience of patients and service users, often at times when extra support and reassurance is needed most.

Lynsey McVitty, Locality Lead with the Trust’s Health and Wellbeing team, said:

“We are very fortunate to have such a committed team of volunteers, and our event was an opportunity to recognise them for the support they offer across many of our Trust services.

“From befriender volunteers who provide support and companionship, to peer support volunteers who draw on their own lived experience to help others, activity volunteers who enhance the service user experience by supporting staff with health and wellbeing activities, and service support volunteers who create a welcoming environment and assist people to access services — without them, we simply couldn’t do what we do.”

The evening was opened by the Trust’s Chief Executive Suzanne Pullins, followed by a panel discussion where volunteers shared what their roles mean to them, while Northern Trust staff offered insights into the positive impact of volunteering within their service areas.

Other contributors included Queen’s University student Nicola MacMillan who spoke about the value of volunteers, while the Hospital Radio team reflected on their long history with the Trust and looked ahead to their future plans and development.

The event was brought to a close by Wenda Gray from Volunteer Now, who highlighted the value of volunteering and expressed gratitude to those who make it so successful and meaningful.

Lynsey added: “Our volunteers give so much to the Trust, and we hope this event helped to show just how important they are to our organisation. Thanks to everyone who attended and took part on the night, and to all of our volunteers for the incredible contribution they make every single day.

“We are always looking to grow and strengthen our Team North volunteer community, and we would encourage anyone interested in finding out more to contact us by emailing volunteerservice@northerntrust.hscni.net or by keeping an eye on our social media channels for upcoming opportunities.”

A group of volunteers, some sitting, some standing, with pop-up banners about volunteering either side.
Causeway Hospital Radio volunteers who attended the ‘thank you’ event – Alan Dempsie, Robert Campbell, Andrew Cooper, Richard Brown, Ita McErlean, Barbara Gray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of volunteers, some sitting, some standing, with pop-up banners about volunteering either side.
Causeway Hospital choir volunteers Rosemary Dobbin, Kay Smyth, Alison McMullin, Olive Todd, and Hilda McMullin pictured with Wenda Gray from Volunteer Now (back row, second left).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of volunteers, some sitting, some standing, with pop-up banners about volunteering either side.
Macmillan volunteers and representatives who attended ‘thank you’ event – Amy Wilson, Macmillan Information and Support Manager, Hilary Crooks, Causeway Hospital Information Pod volunteer, Bernie McGarry, Macmillan Information and Support Manager, Liz Abernethy, Causeway Hospital Information Pod volunteer, Linda McAfee, Causeway Hospital Information Pod volunteer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of volunteers, some sitting, some standing, with pop-up banners about volunteering either side.
Sharon O’Donnell, Macmillan Volunteer Coordinator (left), pictured with Macmillan volunteers Mabel Quinn, Joan Barr, Geraldine Canning, Maureen Mitchell, Susan Hoy, Heather Montgomery, Celine Boyle, Iris McFetridge, Sarah Pollock, with Deirdre Tolton, Interim Service Lead Palliative Care (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of volunteers, some sitting, some standing, with pop-up banners about volunteering either side.
Susanne McNeilly, Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer, Alisha McLean-Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer, Jayne Calderwood, Breastfeeding Peer Support Link Worker and Pauline McKeown, Breastfeeding Coordinator, pictured at the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two women stand behind a promotional table with pop-up banners either side of them.
Sandra Watt, Programme Support Officer, and Glenda Kerr, Health Promotion Officer, pictured at the Northern Trust’s thank you event for volunteers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two women stand beside a pop-up about bereavement support call service.
Leona Laverty and Paula Byrne at the volunteer ‘thank you’ event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven women stand behind a table which has a large cake on it, with pop-up banners behind them.
Pictured at the volunteer celebration event are Gill Murphy, Executive Director of Nursing, Sabrina Lynn, Head of Service, Louise Gillespie, Programme Delivery Officer, Wenda Gray, Volunteer Now, Jacqui Reid, Director of Human Resources, Organisational Development and Corporate Communications, Suzanne Pullins, Northern Trust Chief Executive and Lynsey McVitty, Health and Wellbeing Locality Lead.

3rd June 2026

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