Meet some of our volunteers

Melanie Powell is a volunteer befriender and ward gardener on Bluebell Ward at St Martin’s Hospital, Canterbury.

Bluebell Ward is an acute psychiatric ward offering assessment and treatment to adults aged 18-65 who are acutely unwell.

Keen gardener Melanie was inspired to become part of KMPT’s volunteering team after she credited St Martin’s for saving her friend’s life.

With a passion for horticultural therapy, the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills, Melanie found the perfect fit volunteering on Bluebell Ward, where she supports the occupational therapy team.

Each week Melanie helps out at gardening sessions as part of service users’ programme of therapeutic activities.

Melanie said:  “There are so many benefits in being a volunteer and this is often overlooked or not spoken about.

“It’s inspiring, it’s teaching me patience and how to respect boundaries, and providing an insight into individual’s many different needs – it’s a privilege for me to come into the ward and garden alongside the service users and therapist, who have all shown me such respect and compassion.

“My Monday gardening hour is the richest hour of my week. I’d encourage others to give things a go, you never know what you might gain from the experience, and you’ll be able to make a difference to someone’s day.”

Meet Richard Tolson, a volunteer driver for Canterbury’s ‘Forget-Me-Nots’ dementia support group.

Each month Richard transports service users to and from their club’s get together, so they can meet like-minded people and share their experiences of living with dementia in person.

As well as enabling people to attend the group, which is a lifeline for many who have had to give up work or retire sooner than planned, Richard is also a travel companion for members attending awareness raising community events, dementia-related conferences, KMPT meetings and social outings.

Richard is described as an ‘incredibly reliable and an intrinsic part of the ‘Forget-Me-Nots’ family’ – he even drove a service user to a meeting after returning from holiday in the early hours of the same day! 

The photo shows Richard on a boat ride during the group’s summer day trip to Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve.  Richard (left) is pictured with Forget-Me-Not member Nigel.

Katie Adams, a former service user, now dedicates her time to helping those staying in one of Medway’s inpatient units, catering for older people with acute mental health difficulties.

Katie has just celebrated her first year as volunteer on Ruby Ward at Medway Maritime Hospital, where she supports occupational and art and music therapists and assistants to facilitate gentle exercises and craft activities for older adults.

Katie said:  “I was a patient myself for a long time in my late teens, and it was the KMPT staff who really got me though treatment.

“I wanted to give something back and use my experience to help others battling with mental health conditions.  I understand how both service users and staff feel and can work together for the best outcome.

“Together, we motivate, encourage, and engage with, the people staying on the ward and it’s so rewarding to be able to work alongside health professionals and be part of service users’ recovery journey – it’s a joy and honour to bring smiles to Ruby Ward.

“Volunteering has boosted my confidence and given me the opportunity to not only help others but experience roles which may lead to a future career.  There are lots of opportunities to meet up with other volunteers and join forums that support and inspire us.

“I would encourage anyone to find a volunteer with KMPT – I have felt so welcome and the training and support you get is second-to-none.

Rita Peeva is a volunteer ward gardener on Bluebell Ward at St Martin’s Hospital, Canterbury.

Bluebell Ward is an acute psychiatric ward offering assessment and treatment to adults aged 18-65 who are acutely unwell.

Tragically, in 2021 Rita lost her younger brother due to his struggles with mental health.  His early death inspired Rita to find out more about mental health and pursue a career in mental health nursing.

Rita said:  “Volunteering gives me the insight into what it’s really like to work in this field.

“At the same time, I can make use of my passion for gardening to help people – it gives me a great amount of joy to see how nurturing plants can really benefit our service users’ wellbeing.

“My advice would be do not hesitate, find a volunteering position that you passionate about, that way it benefits you and people who need help.”

Cassie’s journey to volunteering at KMPT’s Rosewood Mother and Baby Unit began when she decided to retrain as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Having worked in the theatre world for 20 years, Cassie loved creative arts and knew that she wanted to remain in this field - she couldn’t shake her passion for dance movement psychotherapy!

“Since 2013, I’ve had an interest in dance movement psychotherapy. When the pandemic began, and everything stopped, I decided that it was time to take the plunge and start the Masters course,” she said.

Whilst on placement in the second and third year of her course at Roehampton University, Cassie landed the position of trainee Dance Movement Psychotherapist at KMPT’s Swale Community Mental Health Team.

“Whilst on placement I was given the opportunity to extend my experience and volunteer at Rosewood Mother and Baby Unit, and once I qualified in September 2023, I continued to run dance movement psychotherapy groups as a volunteer”.

Sharing why she decided to volunteer at Rosewood– a specialist inpatient unit providing support for new mothers with serious mental ill health in Kent, Surrey and Sussex - Cassie states that it was something she really enjoyed, and that this particular mode of psychotherapy seemed a particularly good fit for the mothers and babies.

“Volunteering as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist was an amazing opportunity to support both mothers and babies at Rosewood because of its non-verbal nature.

“Although I volunteered just once a week, it was the highlight of my week and I saw the positive impact it had on all the mothers and babies” Cassie added.

Just three months after completing her course, Cassie joined KMPT’s acute inpatient Psychological Practices Team as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist.

Starting off as a volunteer as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, and then securing  a permanent position in the same role at KMPT, is testament to how volunteering can support others, build confidence, key skills and open up new opportunities.

Are you interested in volunteering?

Visit our volunteers page here, and check our current volunteer vacancies here.