Volunteers
Our volunteers play an important role in helping us to make a difference to your local health and social care services. Put simply, we couldn’t do what we do without them.
Interested in volunteering?
Volunteering with us can help you develop skills, gain experience and make a difference to your community.
Jackie Prestwich – Authorised Representative
Jackie had a life changing accident which meant that she was not able to continue with her teaching career. During her recovery and rehabilitation, she became a volunteer with Headway – the Brain Injury charity. She also became interested in the patient experience and how that can be used constructively in patient engagement with health services. She became a member of South Warwickshire Community Health Council for five years and was Vice Chair of the Patient Forum at Warwick Hospital until 2012. She is now a member of the Enter View team at Healthwatch and feels that her experience can be of use when visiting health and social care facilities. She is particularly interested in the way services are delivered to those who are unable to advocate for themselves.
Maggie Roberson – Authorised Representative
Maggie gained much experience and insight of the healthcare environment while working as a qualified nurse in a wide variety of fields including the acute Coronary arena, Nurse Tutor, Nursing Officer and Practice nurse. At the same time, Maggie was a school Governor for 26 years – many of them as Chair of Governors, where she was heavily involved with the Educational system in Policy making at school level, undertaking disciplinary investigations, and legislative compliance. Later as Company Secretary, she was responsible for Quality Management Systems, undertaking audits for external scrutiny.
When Maggie became aware of the work Healthwatch was undertaking, she felt that with her experience she could contribute to the overall improvement of the health environment for patients and Health Practitioners alike.
Sue Roodhouse – Authorised Representative
When Sue was made redundant from her position in retail, one of her customers suggested she try working as a carer at a local authority care home in Rugby. Sue took the advice, and absolutely loved it! She carried on working there after retiring as a bank worker and only finished when they closed the care home. She found that she was missing the elderly people, so she became (and still is) a Befriender with Age UK .
After hearing that Healthwatch were calling for volunteers to go in to care homes where there had been a concern from a member of the public – she applied, and has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Warwickshire for a few years now and really enjoys visiting care homes.
Sue says that “Healthwatch Warwickshire is very supportive of its volunteers and the training is very good.”
Dilys Skinner – Authorised Representative
Dilys is a retired Speech and Language therapist who used to work in Coventry where her clinical work was mainly with children with special needs and their families. In retirement she has continued her interest in both Health and Education, volunteering with Healthwatch Warwickshire as she is interested in learning about, and being involved with Health Services in Warwickshire. Her partner of 50 years is now a transgender woman so she also has particular interest in LGBT issues.
Sue Tulip – Authorised Representative
Sue is a former mathematics teacher and pastoral head who became involved in the Arden Cancer Network, following the death of her husband. This led to Sue becoming involved with Macmillan Cancer Support, Dying Matters, CWPT and Rethink. For many years she represented patients and carers on the NHS groups delivering End of Life Care, and has participated in research projects at the University of Warwick. Sue is an advocate for good care for all.
Minaxi Patel
My name is Minaxi Patel (known as Max). I have worked for over 35 years in admin, clerical and co-ordinating roles. I have worked for Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Quality Co-ordinator at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (Medical Records/Crisis Team and National Careers Office as an Admin Co-ordinator in the Engagement Team.
I have also organised several successful fundraising events and am always keen to make a difference, inspire and be the best that I can be.
I have done volunteering for WCAVA and also fundraised nearly £10,000 over the last 10 years. I have also appeared in the Comic Relief Resource Pack in March 2023 and was also awarded Ruby Star Award in 2025 from Comic Relief. The Ruby Star award, presented in celebration of Comic Relief’s 40th anniversary in 2025, honours those fundraisers who have shown outrageous loyalty and dedication to Comic Relief during the last 40 years.
I am hoping that the skills and experience I have gained working for the health service, Mental Health and education establishments will be beneficial to Healthwatch Warwickshire and I am keen to make a difference, help to improve quality of Health and Care Services and engage with the Community to forge stronger working relationships, so that care can be improved. Your voice matters and change can only take place if everybody values peoples views and experiences are shared so that feedback can be monitored and action can be taken to improve services.
Anita Vig – Volunteer
As part of Anita’s degree she completed research reports on the Social Disadvantages Effecting Health, Welfare and Education; and is motivated to minimise issues of Disadvantage. She has previously worked for Citizens Advice, where she empowered individuals by informing them of their rights through advice and advocacy; and for community organisations, supporting individuals with their particular needs by advising and advocating for them.
Anita believes in seeing the person, and is enthusiastic about community partnerships where individual needs can be voiced and supported by partnering organisations. She is passionate about the positive gains of advocating for individuals to give them a voice and is completing courses to further her independent advocacy certificate.
David Alexander - Authorised Representative
David is one of Healthwatch Warwickshire’s long-term volunteers and is an an Authorised Representative, for Enter and View and an Active Observer on the Board. Being on the Board allows David to participate (but not vote) in Board discussions. David and Su share this role.
David decided to volunteer for Healthwatch Warwickshire after retiring from a career in Social Work. David is interested in the welfare and quality of life of older people in Residential Care, having had experience of social care as a relative of someone in a Care Home.
Susan Jenkins – Authorised Representative
Su is one of Healthwatch Warwickshire’s long-term volunteers and an Authorised Representative, Su shares the active observer role on the Board with David. Being Active Observer allows Su and David to participate in Board discussions but not vote.
Su has a background in the NHS as a Clinical Scientist in Pathology, until a change in career lead her to project managing and installing IT systems in the NHS. She is currently involved with work around Cancer and is a patient advocate for the West Midlands Cancer Alliance Expert Advisory Groups for Breast and Skin Cancer and Radiotherapy; HCP (STP) Cancer Board; and Radiotherapy Governance for UHCW and Worcester Royal Hospital.
Su also assists in running Breast Cancer Support Groups in Leamington and Stratford upon Avon.
Ali Raza - Volunteer
Ali is a dedicated healthcare professional with a strong academic and clinical background. He holds an MBBS degree and a Master’s in Public Health (Advanced Research) from the UK, where his research focused on barriers to vaccine uptake in rural communities. Ali is currently pursuing a Level 5 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care Management, further strengthening his leadership and management skills in the health sector. His experience spans clinical practice, public health research, and community engagement, making him passionate about improving health outcomes and promoting patient-centered care.
Ali’s commitment to public health is evident through his active involvement with Healthwatch Warwickshire’s Enter and View program, where he advocates for quality care and amplifies the voices of service users. He is deeply interested in global health, health promotion, and policy development, aiming to contribute to evidence-based strategies that enhance community well-being. With a vision to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery and empower communities, Ali brings enthusiasm, professionalism, and a strong sense of responsibility to every role he undertakes.
Will Ryder
Will spent a large part of his adult working life in, or associated with, the NHS. A radiographer who went into sales, largely within hospital critical care areas, he has had dealings with a number of hospital services divisions.
A forced early retirement due to redundancy saw him begin volunteering at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. While there he spoke to patients about their experiences of hospital care, and worked with the Research and Development department.
Training with Cruse led him into helping with a bereavement group. Will also has experience of working with dementia support groups, a well-man group, and assisting with fund raising activities.