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BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Do you want to become a volunteer in 2021? St Catherine’s is looking for motivated individuals to volunteer their help in the trading department. Below, five volunteers in our Rowfant donations warehouse have shared their own experiences of volunteering and why they encourage you to do the same.

Richard, from Crawley, started volunteering for us last year after being furloughed and made redundant from his full-time job in the travel industry. Describing more about his background, he said: “I’ve worked in travel for the whole of my working life.

I’ve worked for some of the best travel companies, one for 11 years and another for 18 years. I’ve only ever done that, it’s a fantastic industry to be in and I did love my job. I was furloughed on the 1st April 2020 and I haven’t worked since, and I was made redundant in December. Volunteering has always been at the back of my mind, but like a lot of people, I always felt like I never had the time to do something. I also never fully understood how simple it was to give some time and make a difference.

Kevin, also from Crawley, started volunteering in our warehouse two years ago after retiring from his job in the banking industry. Describing more about his experience, he said:

“Like a lot of people who retire, I knew that I needed to still do something. I always knew I wanted to volunteer and two years ago I decided to join St Catherine’s. I knew all about the hospice as it’s very local to me, I saw an advertisement for volunteers at the warehouse to sort through donations and since starting I have loved every minute of it. That’s why two years on I’m still here.

Good friends, Carol and Joyce, are also part of our volunteering team at Rowfant and worked together in finance before volunteering at St Catherine’s. Joyce:

“I would really miss it if I didn’t do it. Volunteering here really helps me as it gets me out of the house, and I feel very lucky to be volunteering for a local cause and helping people in my community. After my

Richard (Left) and Kevin. Sarah.

husband passed away, I knew that I needed to do something, so I decided to take up volunteering. I’ve volunteered at other places before St Catherine’s, but it’s so much different here than anywhere else I’ve been. You’re not just a number, they know your name and you feel as if you’re part of something.

I would recommend everyone to try volunteering at some point in their life.

Sarah, who also works in the travel industry in London, became a volunteer after she was furloughed due to Covid-19.

“Being furloughed started to have a big effect on my mental wellbeing, so this opportunity came at the right time for me.

I get a sense of achievement from volunteering for St Catherine’s. When I see all of the things that people have donated and know that they’re going to be going to a shop to help raise money, it makes me feel very proud to be a part of that. This opportunity came at the right time for me and it’s really helped me.

I would recommend everyone to give volunteering a go because you don’t know until you’ve tried.

It makes you feel really proud to do something for somebody else, especially during the difficult times that we’re currently in, and I’m sure volunteering will give you that feeling too.”

Would you like to be part of our volunteering team? Please visit www.stch.org.uk/volunteer/ or call the Volunteering Team on 01293 447351 to find out more.