90-year-old Doncaster volunteer returns to hospital role
90-year-old Coralie May has returned to her long-standing Doncaster hospital volunteering role after a two-year break.
A 90-year-old woman from Doncaster has returned to her long-standing hospital volunteering role after a two-year break, supported by domiciliary care.
Coralie is back at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where she has given 34 years of service with the Royal Voluntary Service.
She now volunteers every Friday morning from 9am to 12pm as a shop assistant, supporting staff, patients and visitors.
Her return has been made possible by twice-daily support from carers at HICA at Home Doncaster, part of not-for-profit social care provider The HICA Group. The service has helped her regain confidence and independence following a period of illness.
Coralie said: “God has been good to me, so after a two-year break in my service due to illness I have gone back to work every Friday morning. I want to give something back after all these years. Volunteering has always meant a lot to me, and I missed seeing people and being part of things. Getting back has made a real difference to how I feel day to day. I love doing it and I really enjoy being there again.”
Domiciliary care enables people to receive support in their own homes, maintaining daily routines and connections within their communities. In Coralie’s case, this has meant returning to a role she has held for more than three decades.
She has received 20- and 30-year long service awards for her volunteering, including a medal presented by the Mayor of Sheffield. She has also attended a national commemoration at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of Queen Camilla.
Gail Taylor, one of Coralie’s carers who works at HICA Homecare in Doncaster, said: “It’s been important to support Coralie in a way that fits around her routine and what she wants to do. Our visits help with everyday tasks but also give reassurance so she feels confident in doing what she wants to do. Seeing her return to volunteering and enjoy it has been really rewarding.”
Regular home visits have provided practical and emotional support, helping Coralie rebuild her confidence and return to volunteering safely.
Nikki Lea, Manager at HICA Homecare in Doncaster, said: “Domiciliary care plays an important role in helping older people remain active and connected to their communities. Coralie’s return to volunteering shows how the right support at home can enable people to continue doing what matters to them.”
HICA Homecare in Doncaster provides care to people in their own homes across the local area, supporting independence and day-to-day wellbeing.