Volunteer and fundraiser invited to Buckingham Palace
Posted on: 12 May 2025
When Chitra Acharya joined Nottingham hospitals as a member of staff in 2023, she had already been volunteering and helping out long before becoming an official team member. She had already made a meaningful impact through volunteering and fundraising, and continues to do so since becoming a member of staff.
Now, because of Chitra’s hard work through volunteering, she’s been invited to the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Chitra works as an active Patient Leader but still has time to be the Volunteer Staff Dance Facilitator and delivers multiple staff dance sessions across NUH.
She told us: “Before joining NUH, I was delivering Bollywood dancing sessions to diverse groups, including my lovely NHS colleagues in my previous roles, Council personnel, members of the Women’s Institute and disabled children and their families within our community. When I joined NUH in 2023, I wanted to use my dance training and experience to teach a programme of dance sessions to improve the activeness and mental wellbeing of NUH staff.
“I started a new position as Volunteer Staff Dance Facilitator to deliver staff dance sessions. I am grateful to Megan Dawes, from former Arts Coordinator, and Jo McAulay, from the Active Hospitals project at NUH, for giving me this wonderful opportunity to deliver dance sessions to my amazing NUH colleagues as part of staff wellbeing events.”
Not only does Chitra spend her spare time volunteering, she also gets involved in lots of charity events to raise money for Nottingham Hospitals Charity. Her fundraising efforts include participating in the Mini Marathon at the Robin Hood Half and taking on the Dragon Boat Race, all the way through to organising bake sales.
Her true passion lies in celebrating her Indian heritage through Bollywood dancing and sharing her love of dance with others. Through the Arts Programme, which is funded by Nottingham Hospitals Charity, Chitra has been able to perform at various events across Nottingham hospitals and beyond, which is one of the incredible reasons she’s been invited along to the Royal Garden Party in May.
She said: “I am delighted to be invited to the esteemed Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London on 14th May 2025, in recognition of my voluntary contributions in Education and Skills. Over the years, I have had the privilege of delivering training sessions on Indian Culture and teaching Bollywood dancing to diverse groups.
“It is a tremendous honour to be recognised for my efforts, and I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event at Buckingham Palace. Thanks to the Charity team, Staff wellbeing team, NUH Voluntary services team, NUH Comms team and Trish Cargill BEM (Chair of NUH Patient Partnership Group), Megan Dawes and Jo McAulay for their continued support in my journey.“
We’re so proud of Chitra and everything she continues to do for staff, patients and supporters of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, and we hope she has a fantastic time at the Garden Party!
If you would like to support the Arts Programme, to help bring art to patients, visitors and staff at NUH, please click the button below.