Get more out of life!
There's a lot more to volunteering than you think. See below some of the experiences our volunteers have enjoyed and some quotes from our volunteers.
Case study 1. August 2004
"Dear Noel and all at Age Concern Surrey
I just wanted to express my thanks for giving me the opportunity to make my own small contribution to the work of Age Concern over the last three years. When I gave up nursing I was an 'active 60' and soon became as mentally restless as I was physically. I also began to realise that my desire to be part of a team and to make a difference was undiminished.
So I began to look around for something to supplement my occasional choir singing, flower arranging and (even more occasional) travel to visit my family in far flung parts of the globe. I decided I could no longer avoid the computer technology that has become such an integral part of our world and enrolled on a computer course at Farnborough College of Technology.
Nearing the exam in July 2001, a friend gave me an Age Concern flyer for the drop-in computer centre. "Free", it said. Well, that was good enough for me and I went along one Tuesday. Without a computer at home, I was delighted with the opportunity to practice, with ungrudging help on request from the other volunteers. Through the drop in centre I was able to gain in confidence, take the word processing exam and then move on to others.
But the best was yet to come. For one Tuesday morning Noel popped in - I did not know him then but he was as bright and cheerful as he has been ever since - and asked me if I would like to join the volunteer team. I was hesitant because I was still inexperienced. In the end though I did not need much deliberation before saying 'yes', and felt very chuffed to be joining the happy team three years ago.
So a huge 'thank you' to all of you for helping me to give something back, and for your encouragement and friendship. Thanks also for organising the volunteers' day out, the Christmas lunches and many more social occasions every year. And this is only a tiny part of the wonderful work that Age Concern does. May it go from strength to strength in the achievements that change so many people's lives for the better.
With best wishes
Janese
(IT volunteer) "
Quotes from Volunteers
"A good way to cure some ills, get some fresh air and make some new friends".
"I never realised how much fun computers were until I came to Age Concern Surrey Computer Drop-In Centre. Every week I escape from domestic chores and meet new people and fresh challenges".
"I like working for ACS because I get a friendly welcome and I really enjoy meeting people and helping them in some way. It's a very satisfying job, especially when you get a good result for the clients. I used to volunteer for the Red Cross so that is a useful, additional experience. I'm very glad that I joined ACS Advocacy as a volunteer".
"It's very satisfying to be able to use the skills and knowledge from one's original profession in a sphere which enables clients to have the benefit of that experience and so, hopefully, make a difference in a positive way. It's good to think that all those years of training and expertise are being used still and are not being wasted. We work with a good team of people and one feels one can make a useful contribution. The enthusiasm of the people in the Advocacy department is important as well as the support which we receive".
"My work at the CAB has been valuable training for the work which I do for ACS in the Advocacy department. I have had to deal with a number of 'challenging' cases where I have assisted people who have found themselves in difficult and extremely worrying situations. These cases are often very complex but I have found them to be very interesting for me to deal with, and very gratifying when a case concludes satisfactorily. So often we are told of one problem but that is frequently the tip of the iceberg - there are many people who need our help".
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