LINDA FRANKLIN, volunteer delivering prescriptions

Volunteer delivering prescriptions in Aylesbury in response to COVID-19

 

Linda is finding her new role very rewarding and enjoys doing something different but worthwhile. Linda is a teacher and, after she signed up as a volunteer on the Council’s website, the Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service paired her with a pharmacy in Aylesbury to deliver medication to people unable to pick up their own prescriptions.

The coronavirus situation has meant that many who would otherwise be able to pick up their own prescriptions cannot now do so. The role offers a very practical way of helping others which Linda feels she is well-suited to: “Before going into teaching I was in medical research so I understand about how to handle medication. Perhaps because of my background I saw this as a lower risk volunteering opportunity than others might. The pharmacy, based in a local surgery, offers good support and provides all the necessary PPE.”

Linda spends about four hours every other week delivering medication to patients in various parts of Aylesbury. She finds it easy to fit around the work she still does as a teacher, despite schools being currently closed. When asked how she feels about volunteering, Linda said: “An unexpected bonus is discovering parts of Aylesbury I didn’t know were there. But the most rewarding aspect is the positive feedback I get from the people I deliver to – I am often greeted with a lovely smile and genuine thanks for a simple delivery. This is a really well-organised chance to do something different to what I’d normally do.”

 

If you are looking for a volunteering role, you can register your interest with the Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service.

Updated on September 18, 2023

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Image courtesy of St Francis's Children Society