How Altera gives back through volunteering

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How Altera gives back through volunteering

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In recognition of Volunteers Week between 2–8 June, we shine a light on how our team at Altera Digital Health in the UK & EMEA is committed to advancing healthcare through technology while also engaging directly with the communities we serve. As part of our Give Back Programme, employees are encouraged to take a day out of their working week once a year to volunteer for an initiative that is close to their hearts.

This has included many different initiatives, such as volunteering at a local homeless charity, spending a day on a dementia ward at one of our client sites, supporting a local bowling club, acting as a School Governor, donating Easter Eggs to patients at one of our client sites, to name just a few.
Learning with purpose

As part of our commitment to honouring national awareness days, our associates participate in monthly Lunch-and-Learn sessions. Altera invites guest speakers to deliver engaging talks and presentations, followed by a Q&A session. In appreciation of their time and expertise, we donate to their affiliated organisations. For instance, in recognition of National Stress Awareness Month this April, we welcomed Dr. Fiona Pienaar from Mental Health Innovations. Dr. Pienaar delivered an insightful session that equipped our associates with practical strategies for managing stress both in and outside the workplace, while also highlighting the importance of prioritising mental wellbeing.

Running for resilience: Ed’s 365-day challenge for Doctors in Distress

In 2024, Dr Ed Hutchison, Expert Solutions Specialist at Altera Digital Health UK & EMEA and NHS Junior Doctor, ran a minimum of 5 km every single day, all while wearing his Doctors in Distress scrubs. His remarkable year-long effort raised funds for Doctors in Distress, an independent charity that offers peer support to all healthcare workers, helping safeguard their mental health and prevent suicide. Ed’s dedication helped raise more than £8,000 for this vital cause!
Ed reflected on the power of giving back: “It is an honour to run in the scrubs for the UK healthcare charity ‘Doctors in Distress.’ Tragically, rates of burnout and suicide are at an all-time high amongst NHS staff. Doing anything that I can to raise awareness of the cause, as well as raising funds to help those in need, is super important. As an ambassador for the charity, I am excited for another big running challenge in August 2025 to continue supporting and ensure even more people are aware of the amazing work the charity does.”

Walking to give back

Our team has also contributed to our annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Walking Challenge to support National Heart Health Awareness month and the NW Hearts Charity with a Step Challenge in February of this year.
A total of 35 participants took part, who were divided into five groups. An initial target was set at a goal of five million steps for the month; however, our colleagues smashed the target by walking a total of 8,505,019 steps, which was just shy of 35K miles.

Supporting patients with dementia

Earlier this year, some of our team members had the opportunity to spend the day at the Forget Me Not Unit at our client Dudley Hospital, supporting patients living with dementia and the dedicated staff who care for them. From meaningful conversations and therapeutic activities to simply sharing laughter, it was a powerful reminder of how even small moments of connection can make a big impact.

We also had the chance to learn from the incredible healthcare professionals on the unit, gaining insights into personalised care strategies and how tools like our Sunrise™ EPR system can support their work.

Whether it’s through volunteering, walking for a cause, sharing knowledge or supporting mental health, our team continues to show that even small acts of kindness can lead to meaningful change. These stories reflect our shared commitment to not only transform healthcare through technology but to also stand beside the people and communities we serve.
As we celebrate Volunteers Week, we’re proud to recognise the compassion, dedication and initiative shown by our colleagues across the UK & EMEA team.

About the author

Linzi Hill

Senior Manager – Commercial and Compliance & DEI Lead

My early years living in the Canary Islands gave me a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and shaped my belief in the power of inclusion. I’ve carried that perspective into my professional life, where I’m passionate about creating inclusive environments, building meaningful connection and being a DEI advocate.

As a Senior Commercial and Compliance Manager at Altera, I’m responsible for supporting the delivery of strategic commercial initiatives, conducting due diligence in our vendor and customer contracts, and ensuring we uphold the highest standards of integrity and regulatory compliance. My role allows me to work across multiple teams and functions, which gives me a unique opportunity to champion inclusive practices and drive meaningful engagement across the business.

I’ve been with Altera for nearly 15 years and have proudly supported and championed our volunteering programmes for 12 of those years. Volunteering allows me to stay connected to the values I care about most: community, empathy, and growth. It also strongly reflects Altera’s core value of Respect of the Individua, recognising and valuing each person’s unique experience, background, and contribution. It’s a privilege to be part of a team that not only drives innovation in healthcare, but also encourages us to give back in ways that are personally meaningful.