What Is The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Volunteers Awards Ceremony In Wakefield?

Ever been in a hospital and noticed someone, not a doctor or a nurse, just being incredibly helpful? Maybe they showed you the way to a ward, made you a cup of tea, or simply offered a friendly smile when you needed one. These people are often volunteers, and they're a massive part of what makes our hospitals tick. On 5th November 2025, the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust decided it was high time to give these local heroes a proper thank you, and they did it with a very special event.

A special celebration for dedicated people

Picture this: Wakefield Town Hall, filled with people who have given up their own time, for free, to help others. That was the scene for the Long Service Awards ceremony, a special event designed to honour some truly dedicated individuals. The whole point of the get-together was for the **Trust** to show its appreciation for the volunteers who support patients and staff across its hospitals, including Pinderfields and Pontefract. This wasn't just a pat on the back.

This was a proper awards ceremony for people who have shown incredible commitment, with awards recognising service that ranged from five all the way up to an astonishing 35 years. Think about that for a moment. Five years is a long time to dedicate to anything, let alone 35! This special awards ceremony in Wakefield was a fantastic way to celebrate the people who quietly make hospital life a bit easier for everyone else. These dedicated volunteers were finally given a moment in the spotlight, and it was thoroughly deserved.

What exactly do hospital volunteers do?

It's easy to think of a hospital as just a place for medical stuff, but it's also a community. And volunteers are the glue that often holds that community together. Their service can involve all sorts of things, and it makes a huge difference. Here are just a few examples of what these dedicated folks get up to:

• A friendly face: Hospitals can be big, confusing places. A volunteer might be the person who helps a worried visitor find the right ward or just points them towards the cafe for a much-needed coffee.
• The comfort crew: They run trolley services with newspapers and snacks, making sure patients have a few home comforts. Sometimes, just having a chat with someone for ten minutes can brighten up a whole day for a person stuck in bed.
• Behind-the-scenes heroes: Many volunteers help with admin tasks or support hospital charities, doing the less visible but equally important work that keeps things running smoothly.

Basically, they fill in the gaps with kindness. While doctors and nurses are busy with the clinical side of things, the volunteers provide a human touch that is just as important for recovery and well-being. Their service across the different hospitals makes a real, tangible difference every single day.

Honouring incredible service in Wakefield

The awards ceremony wasn't just a small affair. To make it extra special, the awards were presented by none other than Coun Maureen Tennant-King, the Mayor of Wakefield. Having the Mayor of Wakefield there shows that it's not just the Trust that's grateful; the entire city of Wakefield recognises and values the contribution these volunteers make. Seventeen dedicated volunteers were honoured at the ceremony for their long service. It's a huge achievement to be recognised in this way, standing up in front of your peers and being celebrated for years of commitment. It's events like this special awards ceremony that remind everyone of the power of community and giving back. These people aren't looking for praise, but they certainly deserve to be honoured for their selfless work at the Pontefract and Pinderfields hospitals.

The amazing story of Charlie Keith

Among all the incredible people recognised, one name really stood out: Charlie Keith. Charlie was honoured for an unbelievable 35 years of service. To put that in perspective, 35 years ago, things were very different! He has given his time consistently for over three decades, which is just staggering. Much of his volunteering has been with the Trust's hospital radio station. If you've ever been a patient, you'll know how brilliant a hospital radio station can be.

It's a friendly voice playing requests, sharing stories, and making the ward feel a bit less lonely. For 35 years, Charlie Keith has been one of those voices, a source of comfort and entertainment for countless patients. But that's not all. He's also been heavily involved with the MY Hospitals Charity. This charity raises money to buy extra equipment and improve facilities for patients - things that the standard NHS budget might not stretch to. So, Charlie's service has had a double impact: he's not only cheered patients up directly through the hospital radio station but has also helped raise vital funds to improve the hospitals for everyone. He is the perfect example of a truly dedicated volunteer, and it's fantastic that he and 16 others were honoured for their incredible service.