Championing Research in Volunteers’ Week

Volunteers’ Week, which takes place between 1 and 7 June every year, is a great opportunity to recognise the wonderful work of volunteers across the UK.

Volunteering is vital to health and care research, and this is an important opportunity to recognise everyone who has supported us in delivering essential work across Kent, Surrey and Sussex over the past year.

Those who participate in health and care research are shaping the future of healthcare.

We asked two of our most active Research Champions, what is the most rewarding thing about being a public Research Champion:

“For me, the most rewarding thing is to give something back to research which saved my life when I had breast cancer and the following year, bowel cancer,” said Frances Mossie, Volunteer Patient Research Ambassador at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. “I am 10 years free of cancer and just wish to raise awareness of research within the Trust and further afield.”

Andrew Lang is a Research Champion for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust in Worthing, Sussex. “The most rewarding thing is having a voice in medical research and meeting researchers and fellow Research Champions,” he said. “Research is utterly vital. Our ageing population demands that the medical profession urgently needs to develop more effective and efficient ways of delivering care.”

Frances feels she owes her life to research, and is committed to ensuring other people are aware of the opportunities available.

“Raising awareness of research taking place is one of the most important aspects of this role,” she said. “It is my personal ambition to assist patients through their involvement in research, to assist in making research transparent from start to finish for the patients taking part, and most importantly thanking patients who have participated in research voluntarily.

Research Champions

Research Champions, who advocate for research in the community, and provide an important link between research and the public. Many NHS Trusts encourage people to be Research Champions, so if you would like to learn more, contact your local Trust’s Research and Development Department.

Alternatively, visit our website.