Healthwatch Greenwich Welcomes 13 New Volunteers to Community Engagement Team
On 30 June 2026, we welcomed a cohort of 13 new volunteers from a range of backgrounds, including university students, recent graduates and working professionals. We held an induction session at Woolwich library to introduce volunteers to the organisation, its role in representing the views of local people, and the expectations and opportunities available within the volunteer programme.
The induction provided an interactive opportunity for volunteers to ask questions about local health and social care services and have a discussion with the team to understand how their potential contribution can become a meaningful experience for them and Healthwatch Greenwich.
Volunteers were introduced to Healthwatch Greenwich's current projects and organisational priorities, including our work to tackle health inequalities and improve people's experiences of health and social care. They also received training in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), data protection and GDPR, and adult safeguarding to prepare them for their volunteering role.
“This induction training really helped me learn about why feedback from the community is important to understand the barriers they are facing in accessing social and healthcare services —and how we should protect the sensitive health data of people,” said Nazia, a new volunteer attending the induction meeting.
Why volunteers matter to Healthwatch Greenwich?
Volunteers are at the heart of Healthwatch Greenwich's work. They help us reach communities across the borough, listen to people's experiences of health and social care, and ensure those experiences are heard by the organisations responsible for planning and delivering services. Their contribution enables us to build a richer understanding of what is working well, where people face barriers, and where improvements are needed.
Our outreach volunteers play a particularly important role in connecting with residents. Every week they engage with people in places such as libraries, community centres, GP practices, hospitals and local events, making it easier for people to share their experiences and views. Alongside them, our administration and communications volunteers provide valuable support that helps our engagement activities and organisational work run smoothly.
Volunteering with Healthwatch Greenwich is a partnership. Volunteers make a meaningful contribution to improving local health and care services while gaining new knowledge, confidence and practical skills. Many also develop experience in community engagement, communication, research and public involvement, which can support their personal and professional development. Above all, our volunteers play an essential role in ensuring that the voices of Greenwich residents help shape better health and care services for everyone.
What did volunteers say about the training?
Feedback from the induction was overwhelmingly positive. Volunteers described the session as welcoming, informative and engaging. The introductions and icebreaker activities helped participants get to know one another, creating an open and supportive environment in which they felt comfortable asking questions and sharing their motivations for volunteering.
One of the strongest themes to emerge was the importance of building connections with other volunteers. Many participants expressed enthusiasm for future social events and informal opportunities to meet, recognising that these would help strengthen relationships, provide peer support and foster a sense of community beyond volunteering activities.
Volunteers also appreciated the opportunity to meet the Healthwatch Greenwich team and gain a first-hand understanding of the organisation's role, current priorities and the impact volunteers have in ensuring that the voices of local residents help shape health and care services.
Meeting an existing volunteer provided valuable insight into the different ways people can contribute. By sharing his experience of supporting communications and social media, he demonstrated that volunteering extends beyond community engagement and highlighted the wide range of skills and experience volunteers can bring to the organisation.
The induction also helped volunteers connect their own motivations with Healthwatch Greenwich's work. Reflecting on the session, one volunteer said:
"Studying health promotion at university is one thing, but seeing how Healthwatch Greenwich applies those principles through initiatives like its recent cancer screening awareness campaign has inspired me to volunteer and contribute to improving the health of local communities."
This reflected a broader theme throughout the session: volunteers were motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to improving health and care services and supporting their local community.
Reflecting on the induction, Healthwatch Greenwich's Engagement and Volunteering Officer, Ayomide Johnson, said:
"It was encouraging to see so many people wanting to give their time and skills to support local communities. Our volunteers bring different experiences, perspectives and expertise, but they all share a commitment to listening to residents and helping improve health and care services. The induction was an important first step in building the knowledge, confidence and relationships that will support them in their volunteering journey with Healthwatch Greenwich."
