What volunteers see: a farewell from Leo
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Leo came to Mildmay Hospital as a volunteer eighteen months ago, uncertain what to expect.
He worked in several roles during that time - supporting patients on the wards, helping with administration, and serving occasionally as a chaplain. Last week, he moved on. Before he left, he wrote to us.
We are sharing his words here, with his permission, because they say something about this hospital that we find difficult to say ourselves.
“When I first walked through the doors of this hospital eighteen months ago, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. What I found, though, exceeded anything I could have imagined - and leaving today feels bittersweet in the most meaningful way.
Over the course of a year and a half, I had the privilege of serving in a number of roles - supporting patients, assisting on the wards, and helping behind the scenes in administration. Each brought its own set of experiences, and together they gave me a picture of this hospital that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
What struck me most was never one single dramatic moment, but rather the quiet, consistent kindness that exists here every single day. A nurse pausing mid-shift to hold a patient's hand. A porter offering a warm word to someone who looked frightened. A receptionist remembering a name, a face, a small detail that made someone feel seen.
These moments happened constantly, almost without anyone noticing - and yet to me, as a witness to them, they were extraordinary.
The staff here do not simply do a job. They show up with genuine compassion, day after day, in circumstances that would test anyone. To work alongside them, even in a small capacity, has been one of the greatest honours of my life.
To the patients I met along the way: thank you. Your resilience, your warmth, and your willingness to let me be part of your days taught me more than I ever expected.
And to this hospital, and to the volunteer programme that welcomed me so generously - thank you for giving me a place to contribute, to grow, and to witness the very best of what people can be for one another.
I will leave today with a full heart.”
Volunteers like Leo are not peripheral to what Mildmay does. They bring time, attention, and a presence that complements the work of clinical and administrative staff in ways that are hard to quantify.
What Leo describes; the small, repeated acts of kindness that make up a working day here, is what our staff bring to Mildmay every day. Leo, thank you. For your time, your attention, and for leaving us with words we will not forget.
