Young volunteers and holiday playschemes in the hospital setting

Abstract

The idea of introducing young volunteers into the hospital setting may be lacking in universal appeal for a variety of reasons. Our experience, however, suggests that the potential of young people involved in voluntary work with long‐stay patients, both children and adults, should not be undervalued.Following a successful pilot scheme in 1977, Youth Action York (a voluntary organisation concerned with, among other things, the social education of young people) was again approached by the senior administrative staff of Claypenny Hospital, Easing‐wold, North Yorkshire, to undertake a similar play‐scheme during the Easter holidays of 1978. The resultant 5‐day residential playscheme was based on two equally important objectives — a well organised, effective programme which would serve the best interests of the children taking part and the provision of a fruitful learning situation for the volunteers involved.