Why I volunteer – Helen’s Story

Today, we’d like you to meet Helen, one of our volunteer Controllers

” It all started after I retired and spotted a Blood Bikes Wales motorcycle outside a neighbour’s house. I knew nothing about BBW so I went home, did some research and discovered the Controller role. I immediately knew it was perfect for me.”

Almost two years later, Helen is still loving every minute of it.

As a Controller, Helen is responsible for coordination Blood Bikes Wales’ riders across the whole of Wales. She takes call from NHS staff, organises collections and deliveries, and matches jobs to available riders. Sometimes several riders are needed to relay a time-critical item across different regions of Wales.

A Controller needs to be organised, computer literate , able to solve problems and remain calm when things get busy.

And busy they can be

” The requests we receive from the NHS are incredibly varied. We might be collection donated milk from new mums, sometimes bereaved mothers, transporting life-saving sepsis samples, or moving vital equipment between hospitals. When you start a shift ,you never know what the next call will bring.” One of the many benefits of volunteering as a Controller is the flexibility. Volunteers simply sign up for shifts that fit around their own lifestyle and commitments.

So why does Helen volunteer ?

“In summary , I am a Controller for BBW because I find it interesting, rewarding and fulfilling. I love knowing that I am making a contribution to the NHS and helping patients across Wales”

Whilst riders are often the visible face of Blood Bikes Wales, Controllers are the people quietly making sure everything happens. Every collection, every delivery and every successful relay starts with a Controller coordinating the service. They are the link between the NHS and our riders ensuring that vital items reach the right place at the right time.

As you can see from her photos Helen is also a very active person when not volunteering for BBW