Liz: Why I Volunteer
When I retired last year, I had no idea what I would do with my time. For 50 years, I had either been studying or working in a variety of full-time jobs. Since the age of 13, I have also been involved in voluntary work, initially as part of completing my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Once I had gained my award, I continued in a wide variety of voluntary roles, including transposing books into Braille for a specialist school, assisting in the casualty department of a local hospital, and managing a branch of a Marriage Advisory Council. It made sense to me that I would continue volunteering, especially now that I have more free time and fewer family responsibilities.
I had previously been admitted to Penumbra because of some personal problems, and they provided an exceptional level of support which effectively allowed me to return to a much-improved lifestyle and a more positive outlook on life. I will always be grateful to Penumbra, and it made sense that now I was physically and emotionally more able to make a positive contribution, I should investigate whether I could repay the invaluable help and support they provided during a very dark period in my life. Luckily, I found there was a Penumbra Supported Accommodation Service very close to my home. I contacted them, and they welcomed me warmly and positively, which gave me the confidence to continue with my application.
I have now been volunteering at the service for several months, mainly working in the extensive gardens, although I have also been involved in some peer group discussion sessions and have been on trips with the supported people. Being involved with the service has been an exceptionally positive experience and has improved many aspects of my physical and emotional wellbeing.
Volunteering has become a way of life for me, and I would recommend it to anyone.
As well as the physical benefits of gardening, I think the greater benefit for me has been in many other aspects of my mental health. The supported people I have met have all been special in their own way, and each has contributed to my experience with Penumbra and to my continued recovery. They all have their own challenges, but the care and support provided by the Penumbra staff have had an obvious and ongoing positive effect on their lives. The staff take an individually tailored approach to each resident, identifying their positive qualities and working with each person to maximise these and to build their self-confidence, allowing them to enjoy a much better quality of life. At the same time, they always maintain a professional approach, ensuring the health and safety of the supported person.
As a result of volunteering with Penumbra, I have built my own self-confidence in dealing with a variety of individuals. I have also developed an ability to communicate more clearly and have gained much more awareness of the effect we all have on one another, and how we can work together to improve the quality of life for ourselves and for others. I have honed my people skills to a greater degree and have found a deep-seated appreciation of my own good fortune.
Volunteering has become a way of life for me, and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of how much or how little free time you think you have. Even a few hours a week can make a huge difference, not only to the host organisation but also to the volunteers. You will develop skills you may not think you have and will add a new and positive aspect to your own life. You can choose any venture which interests you, and taking that first step – asking how you can help – will definitely lead to a much more fulfilling life, while at the same time making a huge difference to someone else’s life and improving the society in which we all live. I would recommend volunteering to anyone – just go for it!
Thank you for sharing your incredible journey with us, Liz.
