Do you volunteer in a hospital, visit patients on the wards, or host a hospital radio show? Or did you volunteer in the past?
A Newcastle University research project is looking for healthcare volunteers, active any time from the 1970s onwards, to give oral history interviews! The project explores what it was like to volunteer in healthcare, what motivated volunteers, and the role of smaller hospitals in three counties in the north of England – Cumbria, Northumberland, and County Durham.
Interviewees can expect to talk about what they did on a typical day volunteering, their favourite aspects of the role, why it was important to them, and topics like changes in the NHS over the decades. Interviewees are encouraged to talk about things important to them, and each interview is unique.
If you – or someone you know – may be interested in taking part, get in touch with Lily at: l.tidman2@newcastle.ac.uk or on 07977 326960. Please also get in touch with any questions!
The research is being carried out by Lily Tidman for her PhD in History at Newcastle University. The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), through the Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Programme. It is supervised by Professor Graham Smith, Professor of Oral History at Newcastle University, and Dr Vicky Long.