This Volunteers Week, we’re celebrating all our volunteers across the Integrated Care System (ICS) who help make our health and care services possible.

Rita Patel is a volunteer and trustee at the Ethos Group, a charity based in Oswestry. She knows first-hand how vital the organisation is to people who are coming to terms with life changing injuries and illnesses.

The charity runs three properties where people with life-changing physical disabilities can live in a supported environment while preparing for independent living. They work closely with the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, but also take clients from across the country.

Rita had a life changing injury in 2007 and, after a six month stay in the spinal injuries unit at Sheffield hospital, she moved to the Ethos bungalows in Oswestry.

She said her two years there gave her time to rebuild her life and learn to readjust both mentally and physically: “I think I would have found it very difficult to move straight into the community after coming out of hospital. My previous accommodation wasn’t suitable for a wheelchair user so in effect I had nowhere to go.”

After settling back in a home of her own, Rita joined Ethos as a trustee and volunteer: “I knew how the work of Ethos was so essential to people in a similar situation to my own. I can relate to them and what they are going through. Everyone has a different journey but there are many issues that are similar.”

Now Rita uses her experience of being a wheelchair user, her knowledge of the care and benefit systems and her graphic design skills to support the charity that helped her rebuild her life.

“It has been really satisfying taking on the role within Ethos. I’m extremely proud of being a volunteer and trustee. I get to interact with the board and the clients and bring my experience to the decision making.

“I’m also using my design skills to support the charity’s public relations and social media programme so I’m being creative as well,” said Rita.

She explained that feeling she’s making a difference through her volunteer role had brought a sense of achievement: “You know that you are giving something back. You know when you volunteer that someone down the line will benefit from what you are doing and that is very rewarding.”

Ethos is currently recruiting new trustees and is particularly keen to welcome those with health and social care experience or wheelchair users. For further information see the Ethos Group website at  www.ethoscharity.co.uk  or contact us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 01691 404359.