Ruhi Vaitha is a first-year Medical student, and a volunteer for the long-running Student-Led Volunteering Project, UCL Hospital Fun Team. Fun Team is run by students who play with children staying in hospitals, giving them, their parents, and the hospital staff some relief. They usually work in groups of four or five, and are based in hospitals across North London.
Ruhi enjoys working with children and was looking for a volunteering opportunity that would help with her course. Fun Team offered the perfect mix - giving her insight into children's hospital wards. It's even encouraged her to think about pursuing a career in paediatric care!
Seeing Fun Team's impact on parents and children is hugely rewarding and Ruhi particularly enjoyed being there for a special day:
“One of the children was really pleased when I told them my shifts because she wanted me to be there on her birthday”
Ruhi has really enjoyed her time as a volunteer, and getting a unique insight into hospital life. She also told us that it has given her an insight into the lives of the children's parents, which is a unique opportunity, and the incredible work the nurses do. She can’t wait to volunteer with Hospital Fun Team again next year, and is thinking of becoming a group leader for the hospital she is placed at!
We can help you find the volunteering role that's right for you! You can filter our Volunteering Directory according to your interests, or even set up your own Student-Led Volunteering Project.
You can also browse more health and medicine-related volunteering.