A volunteer who shows ‘extraordinary’ dedication to patients from their earliest years to the end of their lives was among the winners at this year’s UHL Recognition Awards ceremony.
Bhavna Kotecha was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award at this year’s ceremony, held at Athena in Leicester city centre on 2 October.
Bhavna gives her time across three different roles at UHL – acting as a Volunteer at Life’s End (VALE), providing hand massages to patients, and the ‘comfort’ role of supporting children and young people on our wards.
Through the comfort role, Bhavna visits children and young people aged up to 18 years old who may not have a parent or carer with them at all times. She gives them her attention and reassurance, helping them to feel more safe and supported during their hospital stay.
Through VALE, Bhavna supports patients and families during some of the hardest, most emotional moments of their lives. She offers compassion, empathy, conversation and a listening ear, helping to create important moments for patients and their loved ones during their final days.
Bhavna’s commitment to patients has extended not just to giving her time, but also to making a personal donation to Leicester Hospitals Charity in support of their project to create new ‘SWAN room’ facilities for patients who are receiving palliative care at UHL.
Across all of her voluntary roles, Bhavna is valued for her kindness, warmth and ability to calm people and make them feel at ease, whether they are patients, families, fellow volunteers or UHL colleagues.
VALE coordinator, Vanessa Adcock, said: “It is a delight to have Bhavna on my team, and she really is a treasure. She offers a quiet presence when patients and their families need it most. With dedication, compassion, empathy, and sincerity, she provides comfort and reassurance to people during an incredibly difficult time.
“Bhavna’s willingness to listen, offer support, and simply be there can bring dignity and peace to those approaching the end of their life. Through kindness and genuine care, she reminds patients and families that they do not have to face this alone.”
UHL’s Volunteer Services Manager, Bethan Proudman, said: “Bhavna represents everything that volunteering should be. She gives her time selflessly, bringing light when things feel difficult, comfort when people are vulnerable, and kindness when it is needed most. We are incredibly lucky to have her, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being recognised as Volunteer of the Year.”
Bhavna was nominated for her award by Craig McGorum, Senior Philanthropy Assistant at Leicester Hospitals Charity, who said: “Bhavna embodies the very best of volunteering, and friends and colleagues regularly speak about what a wonderful person she is.
“Her beautiful gift to Leicester Hospitals Charity will help to create another peaceful SWAN room space, where patients at the end of their life can spend precious moments with their loved ones, leaving a legacy for families in Leicester for many years to come.”
UHL’s Volunteer of the Year, Bhavna Kotecha said: “I am humbled, honoured and overjoyed to have won this award. I love volunteering very much, particularly working with the palliative care team, as end-of-life care is so important. This is a journey we must all face. For me, VALE stands for ‘Vanessa’s angels, listening, loving, living empathy’.
“I want to dedicate this award to my manager Vanessa, and to my special friend and fellow VALE volunteer, Helen Horner. I’d also like to thank Craig, and everyone who had a hand in nominating me.”
Volunteering at UHL
Bhavna’s story is just one example of what volunteering means at UHL, and why our volunteers are so important.
Our volunteers support patients and help make their hospital experience as positive and reassuring as possible. Their contribution can be seen in the patient who feels less alone, the family who feels supported, the child who has someone beside them, or the patient at the end of their life who has someone there to listen. By choosing to be there, volunteers make a huge difference for our patients, services and communities.
More than 400 people are currently giving their time as volunteers at UHL. We ask for a minimum commitment of three hours per week for a minimum of six months, but many people decide to pledge even more of their time to supporting our patients. Every volunteer brings their own story, experiences and reasons for wanting to give something back, but they are equally valued as part of our UHL family.
Visit our volunteering web page to find out more.