Thursday 27 November 2025
Trigger warning: eating disorders
Mary Grimes, a retired primary school teacher from Darlington, is an activities volunteer on Birch Ward at West Park Hospital, supporting patients through arts and crafts.
The ward, which is part of our trust, treats adults with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa – an eating disorder and serious mental health condition.
Offering hope and understanding
Mary’s lived experience provides a unique and powerful connection with patients and offers them hope and understanding.
Mary said volunteering makes her feel valued, accepted and grateful: “I know what it’s like to live with an eating disorder,” she said.
“A lot of people just don’t understand. It’s such a difficult illness to live with.
“For decades I didn’t think I was poorly. I’d never slimmed in my life. My illness was related to self-esteem and I just wanted to disappear – dissolve like a disprin. I was eventually admitted to hospital at 21, where I was told I only had eight weeks to live.
“It’s so difficult to break the cycle. It’s something that you need to do yourself. Patients often ask me, how did you do it, Mary? and I tell them; you’ll find your way. It’s about accepting who you are.”
Destined to help others
Mary volunteers every week on Birch Ward, dedicating thousands of hours of her time to helping others. She even spends the full day on the ward so she can fit around the needs of the patients, their motivation and treatment sessions.
Her volunteering journey started in 2015, following early retirement, when she answered an appeal through her local church for craft volunteers at West Park Hospital.
Despite a successful 33-year teaching career, Mary said supporting patients at the trust was what she was always meant to do. “The patients here are really poorly and to allow me to be there with them is such a privilege.
“They accept me for who I am. I feel very grateful for the trust placed in me and I’m privileged to be involved.”
Valued and loved by all
A patient from Birch Ward said: “There are many words to describe Mary, but I think the one that sums it up the best is selfless.
“She comes to the ward every Tuesday with an array of crafts and games. She takes the time to bond with patients and discover what they like. She tailors her approach and activities to each person.
“There is never any pressure to do anything, and she very much adapts things to the day we’re having.
“Mary is always available for a chat, if that’s what we need. Her kind demeanour and understanding of what we are going through means more to us than she will ever know.
She has touched the hearts and lives of every patient and staff member she has met over her amazing 10 years of service, and I hope she knows how valued and loved she is by all.”
This month Mary celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the trust. Thankful for her decade of service, patients decorated the ward, and she was presented with flowers and gifts by both the ward and the trust’s voluntary services team.
Mary also volunteers as a check and chat volunteer, which involves weekly phone calls to trust patients living in the community who are vulnerable, isolated or lonely.
Support and resources for eating disorders
Beat is a charity providing a wide range of information and guidance on eating disorders. It also holds specialist courses and operates a helpline for those in need.
Eating Distress North East (EDNE) provides information on family support, counselling, health and wellbeing workshops, mindfulness courses and training and education.
Recovery College Online eating disorders webpage offers information for service users, carers, staff and anyone with an interest in eating disorders.
Your own GP (doctor) can provide information on eating disorders and refer you to specialist services.
