SI Skipton were delighted to give a warm welcome to Eileen Proud from Friends of Airedale. Eileen has been involved in the hospital charity for many years and in many roles and gave us a fascinating insight into how the charity was formed and has grown to now having 350 volunteers. The many fundraising activities were outlined i.e Car Boot Sales, Shops, etc which have enabled the friends to provide additional facilities for the patients at the hospital but also the many duties the volunteers undertake to make patients visits to the hospital as pleasant as possible – befriending, dignity room facilities, patient feeding, social events, chapel visits, hospital transport, guides and many more. Eileen was truly thankful for the support from all the volunteers which helps to make Airedale the friendly and true community hospital it is.