Volunteer Steve Cook has supported the team at OSRU for some time and all year round shows enthusiasm and passion for creating a warm and joyful atmosphere for patients and staff. This December is no exception with a variety of activities counting down to Christmas.

The festive cheer is everywhere at OSRU. Steve shares with us that "the corridor on the unit has 12 strings of double sided A3 pictures with a theme on the twelve days of Christmas, a partridge in a pear tree at the door all the way through to 12 drummers at the top.  One of our trees was decorated on Sunday by grandchildren of one of our patients whilst the other was decorated by patients themselves."

Thursday 12th December saw a musical event on the unit for all patients, family and staff which incorporated traditional Christmas hymns and Christmas themed ‘pop’ music - A big singalong.

The local Tesco in Abingdon kindly delivered festive cheer to OSRU for the event and the League of Friends generously gifted a new Bluetooth speaker.

"Music plays a big part in the treatment offered to patients in the OSRU ward with weekly singing sessions held every week. This brings a little light relief to patients, family and staff on the unit and everyone leaves with huge smiles on their faces. This week the singalong was extended and featured a selection of traditional Christmas carols and Christmas themed ‘pop’ music with mince pies, non alcoholic fizz and crackers - the latter generously donated by Tesco superstore in Abingdon.  Fancy headwear and festive jumpers were the order of the day and a good time was had by one and all."

Steve Cook, Volunteer 

"This was a fantastic event coordinated by volunteers and ward staff.

Patients past and current and their visitors really got into the Christmas spirit!"

Vivienne Southcott, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist.

All year round Oxford Health Charity Volunteers are involved in supporting events such as these. This is more than just time provided.

Volunteers like Steve give so much time and energy to improving the stays of patients, welcoming families and carers in for events and supporting the staff to provide so much more. 

Thank you to Steve and to all of our Oxford Health Volunteers organising and supporting activities on our wards across the organisation all year round.