Volunteer – meet new people and feel rewarded
Bob is one of our longest standing volunteers. Here’s what he has to say about volunteering for us and why it’s so rewarding:
“I’ve been involved with the charity for nearly 25 years in a variety of roles from Company Secretary and Trustee, finance and searching out grants.
“As a volunteer, I have had the privilege of meeting, and helping in some way, hundreds of wonderful people. As most of our service users are aged 65+, they often have amazing stories to tell.
Richness
“The opportunity to bring a little richness into someone’s life, especially if they live alone and are often housebound is very rewarding. Plus, they also add richness to your life too.
“Last year Communicare helped 860 individuals or families through some 310 volunteers who give generously of their time and often go the second mile to help them.
“In this digital world, face-to-face communication remains one of the fundamental aspects of life. Over recent years, the charity has invested much effort in this area by bringing together different age groups in what we call friendship clubs.
Intergenerational activity
“This intergenerational activity is where our elderly, and often lonely service users, meet with, say, eight-nine-year-old school children, usually in a church hall, and interact through games and puzzles.
“I am a firm believer that the younger ones have much to learn from face-to-face chats with the older generation and their long and varied lives.
“I am currently involved in two of these projects, one at Lordswood and the other at the Southampton Manor Care Home. The latter is a new initiative for us, linking the home with students from Cantell School, who are undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Befriending
“It’s been great for me to revisit the home where, as a volunteer for Communicare, I befriended Ruby, a former service user and an amazing lady, who celebrated her 100th birthday there.
“The effort that Communicare volunteers do can simply be described as befriending – just being a good neighbour and meeting a need with a smile and gentle conversation over a ‘cuppa’. But these simple gestures offer so much more for both volunteer and service user.”
Like to join Bob as a volunteer?
If you ever have a spare hour, or so, each week, then we’d love to hear from you, as we always need more volunteers and the experience may also benefit you.
We can be flexible and work around your other commitments. Please get in touch via 023 8250 0050 or volunteer@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.