From Afghanistan to Scotland: aspiring dentist volunteers at NHS Golden Jubilee as hospital signs national charter
NHS Golden Jubilee has pledged to enhance its volunteering experience by signing up to a national Volunteer Charter.
The NHS board, which has 50 volunteers in various patient care support roles, has committed to being a Volunteer Charter Champion to recognise, protect and celebrate the work and dedication of its volunteers.
The Golden Jubilee is celebrating 21 years of volunteering this Volunteers’ Week (2 – 8 June), supporting the best possible experience in the spirit of volunteering, while upholding the principles of good volunteer practice.
By signing up to the Volunteers Scotland Volunteer Charter, NHS Golden Jubilee has reaffirmed its commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive opportunities for volunteers from all backgrounds.
This commitment is already making a difference for people like Shakiba Azim, who fled Afghanistan and is now pursuing her dream of becoming a dentist in Scotland.
Through her volunteer work at the hospital, Shakiba is gaining invaluable hands-on experience in a clinical environment, helping her build the skills, confidence and understanding of the NHS that will support her future career in healthcare.
Shakiba said: “Volunteering here has helped me develop skills, build my confidence and understand how healthcare works in Scotland. It’s also shown me how much I enjoy helping people.”
The Volunteer Charter sets out the 10 key principles which assure legitimacy and prevent the exploitation of workers and volunteers.
NHS Golden Jubilee is especially committed to ensuring that volunteer roles are created and discussed with the needs and interests of volunteers in mind by the adoption and review of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s role descriptors.
These descriptors outline what the volunteer's roles are to create boundaries and provide protection for them, with the opportunity to shape their role ensuring that all duties are included, and that they are valued.
Signing the Charter: (Back row L-R): Head of Spiritual Care and Volunteer Services Tosh Lynch, Chief Executive Gordon James, Volunteer Thomas Burns. Front: Non Executive Director Marcella Boyle, Chair Susan Douglas-Scott, Volunteer Jim Drew.
Head of Spiritual Care and Volunteer Services, Tosh Lynch, said: “As an organisation we understand that our volunteers support us to enhance the patient and visitor experience through a variety of services such as Pastoral Care and Patient Peer Support.
“By providing quality, safe, effective and person-centred care our volunteers play an important role in enhancing the hospital experience for every patient or visitor and in shaping future services.”
Aspiring dentist building her future through volunteering at NHS Golden Jubilee
Volunteer Week 2025 celebrates the inspiring contributions of people like Shakiba Azim, who make a difference while working towards their dreams.
Golden Jubilee University National Hospital Volunteer Shakiba Azim is using her time at the hospital as a first step toward realising her lifelong dream of becoming a dentist.
Originally from Afghanistan, Shakiba worked as a journalist before coming to the UK and volunteering is not only giving her valuable healthcare experience, but helping her to give back to the community that gave her a second chance.
She said: “When I came here I realised I finally had the freedom and the rights to follow my dream.
“Back in Afghanistan, I was offered a place at university to study dentistry, but it was too far from home and, as a girl without a male relative, I wasn’t allowed to go. Volunteering at NHS Golden Jubilee has been my way of starting again and working towards that goal.”
In 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, Shakiba’s work as a journalist placed her and her family at significant risk. They fled to Pakistan before applying for a humanitarian visa to the UK.
After initially living in England, the family were offered a home in Glasgow - a city they had never heard of before.
“I lost everything overnight,” she said. “Because of my job, my family and I were at risk. We escaped to Pakistan and applied for a visa. After 2 years, we arrived in the UK.
“I remember Googling it and being nervous about the Scottish accent, but when we got here, we found the people so kind and helpful. I fell in love with Scotland.”
Now living in Glasgow with her mother and younger sister, Shakiba is focused on building a new future in the country she now calls home.
Shakiba added: “My friends ask if I will go back to Afghanistan after I qualify as a dentist - but this country gave me a second chance. I want to stay here and give something back.”
Shakiba and her sister are both Outpatient Support Volunteers in the Radiology department at NHS Golden Jubilee. They are also completing English language courses to help them begin their next steps into higher education. In just a few weeks, they will complete their English studies and start new science-based courses at college - both essential routes to applying to university for dentistry and medicine.
“We’re working hard to build our future,” Shakiba said. “Volunteering has been a great experience. Everyone has been so supportive and kind. I’m so grateful to be part of this team.”
As part of Volunteer Week 2025, NHS Golden Jubilee is recognising the contributions of our incredible volunteers - people who selflessly give their time, energy and passion to support patients and staff.
Volunteer Manager, Maureen Franks, said: “Volunteers like Shakiba are at the heart of our volunteering community. Her story is inspiring, showing the power of resilience and we are proud to support her journey and are lucky to have her as part of Team Jubilee.”
For more information on how to become a volunteer at NHS Golden Jubilee, visit:
https://www.nhsgoldenjubilee.co.uk/working-us/join-our-team/volunteering/volunteer-opportunities
