Sharon and Fran's Story

Training and development is a fundamental part of our volunteer program here at St Luke's. This Volunteer's Week, we're sharing how qualifying for a Level 2 Diploma in Complementary Therapies has helped volunteers Sharon Tose and Fran Crawley offer an even better service to our patients.

After 20 years of caring for her father, Sharon came to St Luke’s first as a volunteer on our IPC and then in the Active Intervention Centre. Retired midwife Fran wanted to carry on in some kind of caring position and so volunteered on the IPC then in support of our community team.

When given the opportunity to study a Level 2 Diploma in Complementary Therapies, funded and provided by Sheffield's White Rose Beauty Colleges, both Sharon and Fran were delighted to take up the offer.

The College has been established as a Centre of Excellence, offering an extensive range of courses in Beauty Therapy, Nail Services, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Sports Massage and Hair and Media Make-up.

After completing the course successfully Sharon and Fran are now able to accompany our Community Nurses on their visits to patients in their homes. Using their new qualifications, they're able to offer our patients complementary therapies such as massage, reflexology and aromatherapy.

Fran told us that the course offered her a "phenomenal amount of information" and that her new skills are making an extraordinary difference to her patients, especially in relieving anxiety. “The training enables you as a volunteer to develop and broaden your role,” she explained.

Sharon added: “So many patients have never in their life had a massage - they’re amazed at how relaxed it can make them feel.”

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