Why do some of us have 'VOLUNTEER' against their names? - NRAS
Why do some of us have 'VOLUNTEER' against their names?
'Volunteer' is a badge given to some members across our different communities. They may be, for example, qualified nurses working for a charity or they may be members of the community who have consistently demonstrated themselves as balanced, well-informed and supportive in their content and so have been accepted as volunteers by the administrators of the community. It is a mark that their answers are likely to be credible and helpful.
In some of our communities, charities prefer to be more restricted in the way that content is put up - for example only people with a 'Blogger' badge can put up blogs and only 'Volunteers' can answer questions so it as an admin tool.
Of course, this question does highlight that we need to help all members understand more about what the term means!!
Katie
I thought it was something like that - to judge by the very helpful content of their blogs. Thanks - this is a great facility.
In fact we have just updated the site so that nras.healthunlocked.com/que... now gives more information on what a Volunteer is. Also, if you hover your mouse over the 'Volunteer' badge, it will say in small print what the volunteer role is.
We've also added explanations for Bloggers, Volunteers and Admins in the Directory.
It's a quick fix but hopefully will help you see more of how the site runs. Thanks for highlighting it again, Cathie, we are improving the site all the time but it helps to have a nudge every now and again!
Thankyou KatieB ! I sort of thought that's what it meant, but wanted to confirm!
You're doing a grand job you know.
That's very kind of you *blushes*. We are pleased when we get compliments and I shall make sure that Vinay (who does the clever technical stuff to make these improvements happen) has a chocolate biscuit with me to celebrate 
I'm really glad to see more and more new members coming forward to participate on the site; it's been great to watch this community grow so steadily and always with members ensuring that the site stays a genuinely warm and helpful place for talking together.
I agree Cathie, fantastic! this site has been so very helpful to me
It makes you realise that you arent isolated and on your own with this disease. My mother had it in the old days where bed rest + taking the waters at the Royal hospital for rheumatic diseases was the only thing really on offer, along with painful gold injections. So when I was diagnosed, that was what I imagined to be my fate. Now, I see people every 2 months at the day-care unit when I get my anti-TNF infusion, sometimes its good to compare notes, you get a real cross section of people with RA there, so its quite mixed. But this website is a wonderful resource.
So keep up the chocolate biscuits! We'll vote for them for you and Vinay.
Thankyou.
C
Hi Cathie,
While I am no Nurse or specalist on RA, I applied to be a Volunter on this site because of my own personal expecience with this horid illness I feel I can offer personal support I may not always be available to answer all the questions to everyone because of my own suffering etc, although I try my best to be available to answer questions as and when I can.
I hope you find this site helpfull and supportive I know I do, even though my family and some friends are fantastic in supporting me, I feel they dont always understand fully and this is why I find this site fantastic for this type off support also it is fab how we can use the NRAS helpline and get help from them, there advice is invaluble.
take care
Julie x
Why do they make it bloody difficult?
Prescription payments. When will the Government cut us some slack with an incurable disease?
Why does no one understand our condition, not even some doctors.
What do you have to do
