Two Banbury teachers set to join NHS volunteer army

A target of 250,000 had initially been set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock but this was trebled following the huge response from the public. The appeal has now closed.

These kind-hearted individuals will this start week delivering food and medication to 1.5million vulnerable people who have been told to stay at home.

They will also transport patients to and from hospital and provide regular phone calls to the lonely and isolated.

Two teachers from Wykham Park Academy in Banbury are among those who have been vetted, approved and are ready to start volunteering. They will both deliver food and medicines and drive patients to appointments or take them home.

Schools are currently only open for children classed as vulnerable or whose parents are key workers. Millions of other children are being home schooled and work set remotely,

Neither Stacey Walsh or Maria Martin teach a core subject and the flexibility around volunteering for the NHS means that it does not interfere with the work that is set for pupils and their needs and requirements are still a priority.

Miss Walsh, 30, is part of the senior leadership team at Wykham Park Academy in Banbury and teaches travel and tourism. She spent time in hospital as a child and is grateful to the NHS staff for life-changing treatment that she received.

Mrs Martin is a 52-year-old mother-of-two and sees NHS volunteering as an opportunity to thank the NHS for the incredible care that her twin sister Tania Shankland received almost four years ago when she was involved in a horse riding accident.

Left paralysed from her arms down, Mrs Shankland received almost £1m worth of treatment to repair her body and help her adjust to her new life.

Miss Walsh, 30, said: ‘’When I watched the Prime Minister urge the public to step forward and help, I thought I have to sign up straight away.

‘’We are key workers and still being paid. Teachers are working on a rota, but we have time and I wanted to put the time I have to good use.

‘’I don’t have any children or underlying health issues so it’s not a problem for me to help.

‘’I’ve ticked all the options available when it comes to helping so I will be talking to the elderly, doing the shopping, transporting patients and picking up medication.’’

Miss Walsh said teachers are key workers and are being paid, at a time when those in other professions have lost their jobs.

Schools are currently only open for children classed as vulnerable or whose parents are key workers. With millions being home schooled and work set remotely, Miss Walsh said more teachers should step forward to help.

A keep-fit fanatic who goes to the gym at least five times a week, Miss Walsh said her active and healthy lifestyle is the result of life-changing treatment she received from NHS doctors and nurses. Volunteering at this time is her way of giving back and saying thank you.

She explained: ‘’When I was younger, I was hospitalised and treated for a lung infection. I was about nine-years-old when I started to develop asthma-type symptoms and coughing persistently.

‘’It got to the point where I had to sleep upright. I visited the doctors on numerous occasions and was given steroids and inhalers but nothing worked. Eventually I was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and was there for three weeks. The doctors and nurses were incredible, they fixed my problem and to me the NHS staff are life-changers.

‘’I have an active and fit lifestyle and it’s all thanks to my hospital treatment. My life could have been very different and I don’t ever forget that.

‘’Volunteering now is an opportunity to give something back and I would encourage more teachers to step forward and do the same.’’

Mrs Martin said: ‘’I signed up last week and have been accepted. As I’ve still got my salary, I can pay for petrol so I’ve put myself forward to take equipment to and from hospitals, take patients home and also do shopping for those that need help.

‘’I have a beautiful twin sister, Tania Shankland, who was left paralysed following a riding accident and the NHS were absolutely amazing with the support they gave her.

‘’The staff were remarkable from beginning to end. At some point in everyone’s lives they will need the help of the NHS.

"The coronavirus crisis is just a snapshot of the care that the doctors and nurses provide. We are all indebted to the NHS and volunteering is my way of saying thank you.’’

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