Diane’s nursing experience crucial in admin volunteer role 30 March 2023 The road to becoming a volunteer with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland took a little longer than planned for Diane after she unexpectedly suffered a stroke just as her training ended. However, nothing was going to deter the retired paediatric nurse from fulfilling the promise she’d made to her friend, Fiona Sales, who is the charity’s stroke nurse in Grampian. Two years later than planned, Diane finally took up her role as an admin volunteer, working alongside Fiona at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and doing some work that frees Fiona up to spend more time with patients. Volunteering has helped me in so many ways. There’s such great personal satisfaction in feeling you are helping others. I also feel I’m giving something back to an organisation that does so much for stroke patients like me. Diane, 62, who lives in Aberdeen, says: “I never thought doing this kind of volunteering was possible, but my years in nursing mean I am familiar with admin related to the job and I also know how much time it takes. “I was thrilled when I realised I would be able to volunteer with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and help Fiona out. When I had my stroke, I had to forget about doing anything but trying to recover. “Now I feel I’m doing something useful and important again. It’s a wonderful experience. “Volunteering has helped me in so many ways. There’s such great personal satisfaction in feeling you are helping others. I also feel I’m giving something back to an organisation that does so much for stroke patients like me.” Find out more about volunteering with us, and to see the latest volunteering opportunities.