volunteer stories
Volunteering really is a world of opportunity. Everyone has something to give and even more to gain. Here are a few of our favourite stories of the last year to give you a flavour of what volunteers are doing in Southwark.
KIRSTY AYAKWAH volunteered as the Communications Intern at Volunteer Centre Southwark in Spring 2011 and was invaluable in developing the organisation’s e-bulletins, their use of social media, as well as getting out into the community interviewing Southwark’s volunteers.
No two days are the same at Volunteer Centre Southwark and this is part of its appeal, says Kirsty. “One day, I will be hearing inspiring stories from volunteers who have helped to transform the lives of people in their communities and the next, I will be selling news stories to journalists or helping to organise an awards event.”
The experience
not only helped her to develop her writing style and improve her organisational skills but has sharpened her interest in the voluntary sector. “The benefits from volunteering can be enormous if you can open yourself up to these possibilities. Some of my most profound and life-changing experiences have come through volunteering and that’s something that I can never put a price on.”
DAVID JOHNSTON volunteers with Blackfriars Settlement’s Older People’s Group twice a week, arranging bingo, serving lunch, organising the fin
ances and befriending two elderly people. And he does all this despite working full-time at a care home for people with mental health difficulties.He has seven years of experience volunteering for the
Settlement and would not dream of giving it up. “At some point, we are all going to get old so it’s nice to know that we have organisations which give the elderly a bit of a life as opposed to them being shut behind closed doors at home.”
He is also vocal about the benefits volunteering gives him as well as those he is helping. “Volunteering was the start of me building myself up and getting myself into the community. Now I’m very contented, I’m a stronger person, and I’m more self-assured. Volunteering made the difference”.
David was named Volunteer of the Year at the Southwark Stars Awards 2010 in recognition of his continued commitment to Blackfriars Settlement.
GARY JONES used to welcome volunteering once a week at Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe, as it got him out of the house and in the company of inquisitive animals, school children and other volunteers.
“I look forward to Wednesdays because I know I am coming to the farm that day and that helps to give structure to the rest of my week.”
Gary was made redundant in January after working in the homeless sector for 30 years. However, over the last five months, he’s been able to apply some of his technical knowledge to the day-to-day administration of the Farm. He has even added a set of new skills to his own portfolio that includes an expert knowledge of plants, dexterity in collecting poultry eggs, and a flair for photography. One of Gary’s images features a sheep, which now graces some of the Farm’s marketing materials.
His enhanced skills set made him an true asset to the Farm, so much so that Gary was often called upon to help out during weekend fairs, fundraising events and even a wedding. Having been asked to provide management cover in the offer for the summer Gary is now the permanent manager at the farm – yet another great example of the doors that open through volunteering.
“Volunteering here is not so much about learning for me but about experiencing – and being involved in the day-to-day life of the farm has exposed me to many positive experiences. When I first came here, the little ones weren’t born and winter was a quieter place. But since the change in season, the farm has become very busy and active and has taken on a different personality!”
ELENA BLANCO uses her skills as an artist and teacher to help people with mental health difficulties express themselves through art. She used the national volunteering database www.do-it.org.uk to find out about Blackfriars Settlement’s Friendship Group Art Workshop 16 months ago and now delivers classes in drawing and shares her knowledge of art techniques and methods to produce creative images.
Elena has been so effective in sharing her skills at Blackfriars’ Settlement that individuals who had never picked up a paintbrush before have been producing work worthy of public exhibition. The mother-of-two recently showcased her group’s artistic achievements – pictured above – at a local gallery and said the experience was one of her personal highlights.
“I used to be a full-time mum and my friends were also mums. Volunteering has helped me to meet people I wouldn’t normally have met and has boosted my teaching experience which was limited to secondary schools in Spain. I now have the confidence to teach in an adult learning environment and I get a sense of fulfilment from helping others. ”
LEE EVANS is chairman and an under 12s team coach at Athenlay Football Club near Peckham Rye. Come rain or shine every Saturday, the father-of-three can be found putting youngsters through their paces on the pitch.
Where we are in Southwark, there are some children who will struggle through circumstances beyond their control. I get a buzz out of being able to help them and impart something positive.”
Lee also uses his position as Chairman to bring positive changes to the club. He is currently discussing a major project with the Local Authority to secure the future of one of the club’s community resources and says: “I wouldn’t have found myself in that position before volunteering!”here we are in Southwark, there are some children who will struggle through circumstances beyond their control. I get a buzz out of being able to help them and impart something positive.”s father-of-three can be found putting youngsters through their paces on the pitch.
GILBERT BROWN was keen to get his life back on track in 2009, after anattack 10 years earlier forced him to quit his job and led to him be coming an alcoholic and homeless.Seeing an advert for Volunteer Centre Southwark at his local library prompted him to find out about opportunities in his community. It was from there that Gilbert secured a voluntary work with Southwark Disablement Association doing DIY jobs for disabled people.In recognition of his dedication and rapport with the clients, SDA helped him enrol on a Health and Social Care NVQ in early 2010. Then after just 4 months volunteering with them, the organisation offered him a paid job as a Domiciliary Care Assistant.
Having used volunteering to take control of his life once more, Gilbert was able to come off income support for the first time in 11 years. “When I was an alcoholic, I was living in my own world and wasn’t really aware of life going on around me. Volunteering gives you a chance to have purpose in your life and do something rewarding”.
BARBARA PATTINSON’s efforts to make life better for local residents in Camberwell have touched virtually all corners of SE5 . Her campaigning activity spans almost 50 years and includes serving as a school parent governor, sitting on the South Camberwell Safe Neighbourhood Team panel and succeeding to have Camberwell Police Station’s front desk reopened after she campaigned for local people to be trained to man it. 
Barbara was instrumental in establishing Camberwell Community Forum in 1992, which became SE5 Forum for Camberwell in 2002, a grassroots organisation working to bring improvements to people living and working in the area.
As Chair, Barbara is involved in all aspects of the group’s work from leading the drive to improve conditions for business investment in Camberwell; to canvassing residents at local events to inform them of opportunities to become active in the area.
Barbara is adamant that it is vital to develop an awareness of what change people want to see in their area through public engagement and that SE5 Forum is a credible platform to achieve this. “The problem for some communities in London is the people do not feel that they have ownership over decisions that happen where they live. SE5 Forum for Camberwell is a way of allowing them to have their say and to get them involved in championing that change.”
TOM BATEMAN started volunteering at Greenhouse Bethwin South East Football Club while he was a student in 2009. Two years on and he not only coaches and mentors twenty 14 year old boys twice a week, but his volunteering experience has helped him get a paid job supporting young people into university and employment.
Tom, 23, has built strong bonds with the boys at Greenhouse and believes that being young himself and growing up locally has helped them to identify with him. “Most of the people the boys see in authority are teachers and a lot of them don’t have great relationships with their teachers” he says. “So it’s my job to break down that barrier but ensure that they still respect me.”
He enjoys being able to instil greater confidence in the players, increase their understanding of diet and health, and provide them with life skills that they can use as they reach adulthood. “We teach them about discipline, good time-keeping and respect for authority and encourage them to make that connection between using these life skills to improve their lives.”