Volunteers' week 2024 has been another fantastic opportunity for us to shine a light and share stories and information about Volunteering within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. 

The roles that Volunteers are in have a huge impact on patients, families and carers and teams across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire. Thank you to all of our amazing Volunteers, we are grateful to every one of you all year round. 

Oxford Health Charity are always supporting teams to develop new Volunteer roles and we are really excited to have now launched a new research role supporting the Oxford Health Arts Partnership. 

Volunteers Needed for Arts Impact Measured (AiM) Research Project:

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is appealing for volunteers to participate in an exciting new research study investigating the impact of arts-based activities on patients receiving home care. The project provides an opportunity for volunteers who are enthusiastic about the arts and healthcare to make a positive difference in their community.

AiM Home is a new research partnership project led by the Oxford Health Arts Partnership, the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Primary Care Health Sciences Department, the University of Southampton, and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which will offer arts-based activities for individuals receiving home care in the Abingdon area.

By understanding the impact of these activities, the project aims to:

• Explore the effects of arts activities on patients’ post-treatment in the community.
• Test the potential of a pilot creative arts intervention to enhance patient wellbeing, including addressing perceptions of pain and reducing feelings of isolation.
• Assess the impact on staff wellbeing when delivering such interventions.

Participants in the study will have the opportunity to choose their preferred form of creative activity, such as visual arts, music, or dance. Artists will then conduct weekly visits to the participants' homes, or virtually, if preferred, over a span of approximately 5-7 weeks. During these sessions, artists will engage participants in activities tailored to their preferences. Each session will last approximately an hour.

The volunteer’s role will include:

• Assist artists in running 1-2-1 arts sessions in participants homes.
• Assist with collecting data for research purposes.
• Talking to patients about arts activities and help them join in online sessions or in person sessions after the project has finished.
• Encouraging patients to continue to participate in arts activities for their physical and mental well-being.

Volunteers are expected to commit to 1-2 days per week for the pilot phase over a six-month period.

Research has consistently shown that engaging in creative activities can significantly enhance wellbeing and quality of life*. The arts play a crucial role in supporting physical, mental, and emotional recovery, providing a source of distraction, promoting social interaction, and increasing mood.

 *Creative Health Review - National Centre for Creative Health (ncch.org.uk)

For more information on how to volunteer or to enquire about participating in the project, contact [email protected]

To apply for the role or find out about other volunteering opportunities, visit our Volunteering Opportunities page.