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Volunteer Network News
Your latest news and updates from the Volunteering & Public Engagement Team
If you've got a volunteering story to share, please get in touch.
Welcome to May's Volunteer Network News
Hello and welcome to your May edition of VNN.
Volunteers Week is almost upon us (2-8 June) and we've got some great online events planned for all our volunteers. Check out our calendar below and we hope as many of you as possible are able to join us! Look forward to seeing you there.
Happy reading!
Helen, Rachel, Emma, and Maddy
Your ROS VPE team.
Volunteers Week 2025
Volunteers Week will be taking place between Monday 2 June until Sunday 8 June this year. Volunteers Week runs annually and gives us the chance to celebrate the achievements of all our wonderful volunteers. We have several online events this year. Keep reading for more information on what these are and how to book your spots.
Volunteer Appreciation Awards
We’ll be holding our first-ever Appreciation Awards on Thursday 5 June at 6pm where we’ll celebrate your wonderful volunteering achievements. Joining us will be Ruth Wakeman, our Director of Services, Influencing and Innovation.
This is an open event so friends, family and healthcare professionals are welcome to join. If you’d like to come and celebrate with us, register your attendance here.
To see the award categories and nominate a fellow volunteer, click here.
Nominations close on 19 May.
Volunteers Week events calendar
Connect with your Volunteering and Public Engagement (VPE) team
Monday 2 June, 11am
We want to welcome you to Volunteers Week! Come and join us for a friendly and informal chat. Grab yourself a cuppa and come and hear what we’ve been working on. It’s also a chance to meet some of the newer faces of the VPE team, such as Rachel and Emma.
Influencing in Scotland
Monday 2 June, 2pm
Scotland pioneered modern osteoporosis care when the world’s first Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) was launched in Glasgow 1999. Now, 25 years later, most health boards now have an FLS in name. However, without a national audit, we still can’t see where services excel or where people miss out on an osteoporosis diagnosis after a fracture.
In this session, Roma Menlowe (Lead Volunteer Advocate) and James Dobson from the ROS Policy and Public Affairs team will outline how the ROS is pressing for audited, higher-quality FLS care across Scotland. We’ll explain what an audit does, why it matters for patients, and how steady pressure – including from our volunteers - helped secure a public commitment from Jenni Minto MSP to establish Scotland’s first FLS audit. Progress since that pledge has been slower than any of us would like, so the campaign continues - and our volunteers like you remain central to keeping the issue on the agenda.
We’ll share practical ways to influence MSPs that don’t take up much time; highlight wins already achieved through letters, meetings and press coverage; and discuss the next opportunities to move the audit from promise to reality.
Corinne’s Volunteer Journey
Tuesday 3 June, 3pm
In this interactive session, Lead Volunteer Advocate Corinne Turnbull will share her experiences and skills in communication, engagement and fundraising.
Nutrition and Osteoporosis
Wednesday 4 June, 10am
Hear Deborah David, Lead Volunteer Advocate and Public Health and Corporate Nutrition Consultant, talking about the crucial role of nutrition in keeping your bones healthy and preventing osteoporosis. We'll be talking about how a balanced diet full of calcium, protein, and vitamin D can help you build and maintain strong bones throughout your life. We’ll delve into specific nutritional strategies for people diagnosed with osteoporosis, which can help to reduce the chance of further bone loss and why physical activity, and good mental health are important for your bones. We'll also cover medical conditions, including medications, and lifestyle interventions. Hear about current research projects, future policies and much more.
Fracture Liaison Services
Wednesday 4 June, 3pm
Steven Rowntree, our Service Improvement Lead, joins us to discuss Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). Each year, approximately 90,000 people across the UK miss out on essential bone medicines due to the inconsistent availability of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), often described as a "postcode lottery." In England, only about half of NHS Trusts currently offer these vital services. Even where FLS is in place, many struggle to meet the standards set by the HQIP-commissioned national audit, largely due to chronic underfunding and lack of prioritisation. These gaps in access and service quality are contributing to serious consequences, including deteriorating health, rising costs across health and social care, workforce shortages, and avoidable premature deaths.
The UK Government has pledged to establish FLS in every area of England by 2030 - the first national implementation of osteoporosis services. We are optimistic about the potential impact of this commitment.
In this session, Steven will share insights into the charity’s ongoing efforts to achieve high-quality, universal FLS coverage across the UK. He’ll also discuss the rollout of FLS in Wales, the UK Government’s pledge to meet the FLS-DB quality standards by 2030, the Scottish Government’s plans to launch an FLS audit and the national and local influencing work happening across England and Northern Ireland.
Legacies and Free Wills Service
Thursday 5 June, 3pm
Hear Susan Shuttle, our Legacy Manager, talk about her role and our free Will writing service. Susan is a qualified solicitor, a member of global professional body STEP, and the Institute of Legacy Management. She looks after all the incredible gifts left in Wills, making sure they are received as intended and maximized to help people with osteoporosis, both now and in the future.
We are delighted to have partnered with the National Free Wills Network to be able to offer you a free, solicitor-written Will. This network gives you access to hundreds of reputable solicitors across the country, to make it easier for you to tailor your Will to your needs.
Angela’s Volunteer Journey
Friday 6 June, 10am
Angela Porter (a member of our Community Advocate Network) will give you the chance to hear about all the opportunities volunteering with the ROS can give you, including what it’s like to set up a brand new Come And Meet Each Other (CAMEO) support group.
Join our interactive and inspiring conversation
Volunteer Hub news
The hub is your go-to place for anything volunteering related. Whether you want to find policies, download a template, view a how-to guide or download a form, this is where it’s all kept. This should be your first port of call before getting in touch with the VPE team.
Accessing the hub
If you’re still having issues with access to the hub, please email volunteerengagement@theros.org.uk
Make sure you use your primary personal email address for access. If you have an ROS account, try clearing your cache (option when clearing web history) and using a fresh browser.
What’s new?
Quick links have now been added to the homepage to update your marketing preferences and to hear from the ROS or your nearest support group. It’s a great tool for signposting people in the community to connect with the charity.
In progress
We are currently adding a folder for awareness raising materials. This will be for our online presenter’s community.
Coming soon!
- A folder for all things fundraising
- Email templates for support groups to use with new enquiries
- Online calendar of all support group meetings, community events and skill sharing/networking meetings.
Your updates
Luton Support Group and Better Bones Luton
Since the Better Bones Luton project launched in September last year, we’ve attended more than 30 community events across town to raise awareness about bone health, particularly in marginalised communities. At these events we’ve been able to offer practical advice on how to look after bone health and share the ROS’s online risk checker.
As part of our continued outreach, we’ve been working closely with local GPs, and the Rheumatology department at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, to promote our new local support group. The group has now met four times, with sessions including a bone-strengthening exercise class, and an in-depth talk on medication by a local Rheumatology nurse. Members of the support group have been volunteering with our local awareness-raising campaign, representing us at community events and spreading the word, so thank you!
Looking ahead, we’re hosting an event on bone health during menopause in collaboration with local GP practices. This will provide information and support for women at an important stage in life when the risk of osteoporosis increases. The event will also include sessions on nutrition, mindfulness and self-esteem by other local organisations.
We’re not stopping there! This summer, you’ll find us out and about at some of Luton’s biggest community celebrations, including Luton Carnival, Luton Pride, and Desi Fest. These vibrant events are a fantastic way to reach new audiences and continue building awareness. If you’re interested in getting involved - please get in touch!
Nottingham Support Group
The Nottinghamshire Support Group is a well-established and very active group. During the pandemic, they moved to online meetings like many others. However, it became clear that a face-to-face meeting was preferred.
It was important to find the right venue, that had good public transport links, car parking and was fully accessible. The chosen venue was in an area of the city with very mixed ethnicity and social disadvantage.
The group decided they wanted to send positive messages about osteoporosis and proposed the theme of: Living well with osteoporosis. This was partly due to group members really embracing the theme (travelling widely, running, cycling, swimming, walking and attending gyms) despite their diagnosis.
“We advertised the event using posters and online via ROS and social media. We had four and a half people attend (one via phone!). We showed how to access the ROS website, find information and talked from personal experiences about various medications, the benefits of keeping fit and active and not being too frightened to do so. We gave out information packs. These were made up of a number of ROS leaflets and a contact for the group. Reflecting on the event, we think that both the theme and venue were right and hope to build attendance with future advertisement.”
Thank you to all those who attended, and we look forward to seeing the group grow in future.
North West London Support Group
The most recent online meeting from the North West London Support Group saw 32 members watch an informative video from the ROS’s Bone Matters series on osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This is a rare side effect of some osteoporosis medications. It covered the need to be ‘dentally healthy’ before starting an osteoporosis medicine and what to do if you’re planning invasive dentistry when taking an osteoporosis medication.
Following the video, Dr Chris Bell from Bristol Dental School outlined the work he had been leading as the Chair of the Oral Surgery Managed Clinical Network in the South West. This had involved the ROS and included facilitating links between dentists and local osteoporosis services to encourage greater awareness and management of relevant issues for professionals and patients. He also suggested this initiative could be replicated in other areas of the country.
This was followed by a Q&A, which included the Dental Clinical guidelines covering the risks of dental treatment for those on oral bisphosphonates versus injectable treatments (from NHS Education Scotland); the merits of fluoridation; the impact of other conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome, asthma, being on steroids; and the need for people with osteoporosis to be well informed about potential dental issues.
Norfolk and Suffolk Support Group
We’ve recently had some changes in this support group. Long-standing volunteers Jilly, Jo and Lynn have recently stepped away from running the group. We wanted to thank them for all their efforts in supporting people in their area.
All is not lost! We’d like to welcome new volunteers Julia and Tina who have taken over the running of the group.
“We are delighted to introduce ourselves as the new organisers of the Norfolk and Suffolk Support Group. When we heard the group might close without new volunteers, we both felt strongly that we should step in to keep this vital community going. Although I’m new to the ROS, I recognised how important the group is in offering support and information to those living with osteoporosis. Tina felt the same – she was inspired by Jo and Lynn’s hard work and keen to continue their legacy with helpful, engaging sessions.”
Tina and Julia have been busy learning the ropes and are excited to invite you to their first online meeting on Thursday 26 June at 7pm. Their guest speaker will be Hayley Jarvill, a Chartered Physiotherapist and Pilates teacher from the Bury Clinic in Bury St Edmunds. Hayley will share expert advice on exercising safely with osteoporosis, with practical tips to help you maintain strength, mobility, and bone health.
The online group will meet every other month in the evening, with a line-up of informative and inspiring speakers.
BoneMed Online launches
Thanks to a generous donation from The Wigoder Family Foundation, we’re launching a new online service called BoneMed Online. This innovative service gives people with osteoporosis information about the medicine they’ve been offered when they need it most.
Osteoporosis medicines are often taken for many years and thousands of people with osteoporosis have difficulties with decisions about their medicine or practical problems with continuing to take them. That’s where our BoneMed Online service comes in.
Supported by insights from our academic advisors, Keele University, and the work of Professor Rob Horne (UCL) and Personia Health Ltd, this free service helps answer the questions and concerns about osteoporosis medicine that can come up over time.
Launching on 21 May, you’ll be able to take a 5-minute survey where you’ll receive an online medicine summary and six emails over a year tailored to the medicine you’ve been prescribed. Topics covered include:
- Why you’ve been offered an osteoporosis medicine
- How to take your medicine
- Fitting your medicine into your routine
- Possible side effects.
Our Lead Volunteers Sarah Diacono and Janice McKinley generously gave their time to support the development of BoneMed Online.
“I felt shocked and unprepared after my diagnosis” says Janice. “ I really struggled with taking medication and there was no follow up. I felt that nobody cared… I don't think I would have fallen into that black hole if I’d had access to BoneMed Online.”
Sign up here to be notified of the BoneMed Online launch
Our Community Advocate Network needs you!
Join our growing network of community advocates to support the campaign work here at the ROS.
- It's totally flexible - choose what you get involved in and when
- No particular skills and experience are needed
- All backgrounds welcome
- You don't need to have osteoporosis yourself to get involved
“Postcode lottery” for osteoporosis medicines
If you haven’t already seen it, we wanted to share the news about the All Party Parliamentary Group’s (APPG) access to medicines report. It revealed a devastating “postcode lottery” for osteoporosis medications, with 69% of patients experiencing problems in getting vital treatments.
Please complete our support survey
The ROS provides a range of free information and support services to help people live well with osteoporosis and look after their bones. This includes:
- Health information on our website
- Factsheets and printed booklets
- Helpline with specialist nurses
- Online information events (Bone Matters)
- Online community forum.
We’d love your feedback and insights to help us improve our information and support services and would appreciate it if you could complete the survey. It should take around 20 minutes. (Please note, our support groups are not included as part of this survey).
The survey is anonymous, but please don’t include any identifiable personal information in your responses. Any information you provide will solely be used for the purposes of improving our services. Please see our privacy policy for more details.
Who's who?
We’ve welcomed some new staff to the ROS. Check out our latest organisational chart to see who’s who.
Your photos
We’re always on the look-out for support group pictures to feature in VNN. If you’ve taken hi-res images or videos at recent meetings, please do share them with us. Please remember that when taking pictures and videos, you must have verbal consent from everyone featured. If they do not wish to be included, politely ask them to move out of frame.
ROS Annual Report 2024 Highlights
Together we made great strides in osteoporosis research, support and prevention in 2024. Our support groups feature in our latest Annual Report Highlights. Take a look at the full report below.
Thank you for reading VNN.
If you’ve got a story to share or would like to see something featured, please get in touch.
