Volunteers of Leeds
Ravinder SaundhMAECare
Ravinder is an inspirational volunteer who currently volunteers with MAECare and the BAME Hub.
Ravinder talks about the value of connecting with others and particularly in being able to speak your community language. Ravinder speaks four languages and uses these skills to make sure that group members’ needs are heard and can be met by the services they engage with. Ravinder believes that her Sikh faith has inspired her volunteering and said “to help out, not thinking about the money, just, like thinking about other people, to support them, mentally and physically as well.”
For Ravinder, volunteering is about helping others, offering support and advice, being patient and treating people as equals, regardless of their faith, colour or disability.
Barbara KlineLeeds Jewish Welfare Board
The most striking thing about Barbara is how ingrained volunteering is in her way of life; it is part of her very being and DNA. Barbara has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her commitment to community services.
Inspired by her matriarchal grandma, Barbara began volunteering while at primary school, helping to make tea for her grandma’s community group which supported older people.
As third generation, British born, Barbara sees her heritage as being a mix of English culture and Jewish background. Barbara has a strong sense of community, when people ask for help, she shows up and gives what she can even if she isn’t able to help physically, she always finds a way. “But this is what it is. Something happens. We’re there. It’s not a question of thinking about it.”
Joan OkutuCare and Repair
Joan is a people person who will talk to anybody; she finds the social aspect of volunteering to be the most exciting part.
As a child growing up in Jamaica, Joan was hugely influenced by her grandmother and the kindness that was shown by the community. Joan reflects that her grandma had a fiery temper but was also the kindest person. She was a farmer and would give away food when she had too much of it.
When chatting about the community she was raised in, Joan talks about how hardworking people in the village were, how helpful people were and that even with very few belongings, they were the most generous people. It was this community spirit that has spurred Joan on and has been a true inspiration for her volunteering. Joan’s values of humility, kindness and understanding, truly reflect the essence and soul of our volunteers in Leeds.
Kamalijit SinghWYCCS
The words that Kam chose to describe volunteering were love, service, hope and relational. For Kam, the most important thing is love.
Kam’s faith plays a significant part in his volunteering, as a born-again Christian, Kam sees Jesus as his role model and has found that since coming to faith his heart and compassion for people has grown.
Being born into a Sikh family, Kam talked about being blessed with having a father who was kind and gentle and generous. Kam’s goal in life is to honour Christ and he does this by helping people. As a volunteer link worker Kam sees his role as “building relationships and building genuine friendships.”
Kam strongly recommends volunteering because it’s so rewarding and people have the opportunity to change lives – “So that little thing, don’t think you’re small, throw that pebble into the water and let it ripple out, change the world, change society, why not.”
Tessa FrancisBeing You Leeds
“Interesting. Vulnerable. Community.” These are the words Tessa uses to describe her volunteering role.
Tessa finds her volunteering role very interesting. As an Anti-stigma Champion, she reaches out to communities to talk about mental health. Tessa spoke about how anyone can experience mental health problems, how it can begin with stress and build into something bigger, leading to diagnosed conditions. Tessa loves that volunteering enables her to meet new people with lived experience, she said “You don’t realise what people go through in their everyday life, sometimes they just need someone to talk to, somewhere they can go for help. It gives me such a buzz to help people.”
Within Tessa’s role, she is often surprised at how vulnerable lots of people are. Tessa said “Nobody’s in an island, nobody stands alone, everyone needs someone to talk to.”
Tessa was inspired to volunteer by a family member who was an activist around the black power movement in the 1960’s. Her mother was a teacher and people often tell her that she’s following in her footsteps. A friend encouraged Tessa to volunteer and because of her illness she wanted to get out of the house. Tessa says, “and I’ve never looked back.”
To those who are thinking about volunteering Tessa says “Go for it! Whatever volunteering role you’ll always be inspired. Even if you only put one day a week in it, sometimes you can apply for funding or training through the organisation. You’ll see people. It’ll help you as well and helping the organisation you’re working with.”
Ali BadjiBurmantofts Community Friends
Ali first thought about volunteering when he was at the barbers chatting with friends, he popped down to the Volunteer Centre where he chatted to a volunteer, telling him, “I am an asylum seeker, I’m not doing anything, and I just want to do something”.
Ali reached out to Burmantofts Community Friends. This was two years ago now and during that time Ali has made a real impression on the members who are always pleased to see him.
Ali reflected on the diverse people that he sees in his volunteering, meeting people from Gambia, South Asia and Vietnam and how this makes Burmantofts Community Friends a more welcoming space. Ali sees the members he works with as his parents or grandparents and hates to see them struggling, he shared “I feel it, like my mum or dad. I feel like that may be me tomorrow, and I’ll be sitting, and I’ll need someone to help me. So that’s why I don’t like missing [volunteering], it’s very rare, it has maybe been once or twice, I was poorly but I felt, oh they will be struggling without me, especially carrying the tables.”
For Ali, the core of his volunteering role is in helping, being friendly, communicating and making sure people are happy with the service. To people who are considering volunteering Ali says “I can say it’s good whilst you’re not doing anything, just once a week, it’s alright, it’s not bad.”
Teresa O’DriscollLeeds Irish Health & Homes
As a first-generation Irish person, Teresa volunteers to continue her connection with the Irish community or as she puts it, “rubbing shoulders with your own”.
After retiring from Leeds Irish Health and Homes Teresa was keen to make sure that some of the creative projects continued and so she became a volunteer.
Teresa cares about storytelling, particularly old Irish stories and Irish mythology. She reflected that often people tell stories of war and famine, however she encourages people to talk about the ‘good spirit’ and fairytales to keep hold of the rich Irish culture and that gives people hope. Now her volunteering role involves taking clients to the theatre, giving them a reason to dress up and feel good. Teresa opens the door to the arts, when people say, “it’s not a thing we do” she responds, “come on, come, give it a go.”
To those who are considering volunteering Teresa says “so the volunteering can be an unknown, but like, step in there, don’t be frightened, step in there because, it’s fun. And you can always change your mind, or do something different, try it out, give it a go. In Ireland they’d say, ‘have a lash off it’ meaning, like, take a chance!”
Lizzie SnowVoluntary Action Leeds
Lizzie is a huge advocate for volunteering and this began in her recent experience of volunteering oversees.
Lizzie’s main motivation for volunteering is to gain experience while she’s studying at university. Volunteering has given Lizzie the opportunities to learning about the charity sector and the different roles that exist. In Lizzies words, she wanted a role “where you could really get stuck in rather than just be someone making coffee and watching other people do jobs, it was wanting to get some proper experience and learn how to work basically.”
Lizzie reached out to the Volunteer Centre and asked for a role within VAL. It was the support that VAL offers to charities, “pulling them all together” that interested Lizzie. She gives great advice for people looking to volunteer when she said “I’d say have a look at what’s out there, there’s so many different roles and so many different places that are available, and if you see something where you think you’d be good or really want to help then ask.
See people in the charity sector, by nature, are really lovely people and so if they’re able to help you, they likely will and so if you talk to people and ask, then you’ll find something where you can make a role work, where you can make a difference and have the kind of experiences that you feel you need to have.”
Adel ChermitiLeeds Hyde Park Sports Club
“Giving back to the community, helping others and giving them that opportunity.”
For Adel Chermiti volunteering was something he jumped into with both feet, using his love for football as a way to help others and make a massive difference to his community.
When Adel moved to the UK 17 years ago he hadn’t had the chance to get involved with volunteering, but living in Leeds offered this opportunity and he got engaged straight away. He “wanted to use sport to help others.” Adel began to volunteer at lots of different sports clubs and he told me how it helped “build my confidence and get engaged with others.”
But Adel took his volunteering further, and his commitment to his community is incomparable. Seeing that there wasn’t a football club in the Hyde Park area, Adel took it upon himself to offer this opportunity to local kids, walking round the park and telling excited young football fanatics that there was a new club in their area! Crucially, this is a club with no waiting lists, so everyone gets the opportunity to play.
Adel loves seeing the impact made by the club: when the teams become competitive (the clubs women’s first team won last season’s West Yorkshire league) and when the teachers and parents of the kids he coaches come back to him and tell him about the improvements they are making off the pitch as a result of the discipline and skills taught at the club. Adel’s volunteering snowballed and became a big part of his life, as he put it, “once you help 10 kids you want to help 100, that’s why we have a policy where we don’t turn people away.”
Adel was delighted to chat with me about volunteering, he sees not only the benefits within the community but the opportunities for development that volunteers get, not only an amazing thing for your CV but something that teaches you how to face challenges whilst engaging with your community.
All of Adel’s dedication to his community feeds back to his motto: “One vision for community, one goal for the community, one dream for the community and one family in the community.”
Graham MosesFarsley Rehoboth
“Suckered into it.”
Not necessarily the most glowing review for the beginning of someone’s journey with volunteering, but Graham’s story at Farsley Rehoboth shows how volunteering can creep up on you and become an amazing part of your life.
Graham worked down the road from Farsley Rehoboth and walked past the gates each day, after he took voluntary redundancy, he saw the help wanted sign on the gate. Having come down for a shift Graham then seemed to be hooked, starting with a couple shifts a week, he now adds one longer shift onto that as well as taking on more skilled volunteer roles.
Alongside weeding and maintenance, Graham is a trustee of the charity and part of their grave rebuilding team. Graham told me about the work that goes into rebuilding the graves, with some taking a day or two and the biggest taking the team 11 months. This year the grave rebuilding has been paused. The Rehoboth has focused on forestry, aiming to remove the small sycamore trees that grow and “cause havoc.”
The boost to the community that comes for the Farsley Rehoboth redevelopment is clear when hearing the story of the charity from Graham. It was a Church burial ground that was sold to developers 35 years ago and forgotten about until it was bought by the charity in 2019. But 35 years of neglect meant the space needed lots of work to become what it is today. When the charity started the simple job of opening the gates was impossible and Graham described how volunteers had to climb over the wall to clear the overgrowth from the back to open the gates. With this beginning it’s amazing to be able to walk around and experience the Rehoboth as it was designed and intended.
Graham wanted to encourage others to give volunteering a go, simply to see if it’s for you. Volunteering for Graham is “whatever that person wants to get out of it.”
Anna ComerfordYouth Justice Service
“Rewarding, challenging, community.”
Anna is a volunteer for the Youth Justice Service, she works with young people as a way to keep them away from custody after they have committed a crime. With this role comes challenges as Anna seeks to understand and help create the best possible plan for a young person, who’s probably not had the best time, to begin to make positive changes.
Anna found volunteering as a way to understand what she would want out of a career, and as a way to fulfill her interests. She cares greatly about young people and has a keen interest in understanding behavioral development. Volunteering is a way for Anna to think about her career and her interests without having to devote all her energy to that one thing.
Anna’s volunteering role is one moment in a young person’s experience with the courts system so whilst it’s impossible to understand the impact she can make as a volunteer, the difference she sees in the young people as they move through the process is apparent, and the opportunity she takes to listen and connect with that person has a clear impact in the moment on how that young person is feeling.
Volunteering not only connects Anna to her community, but it gives “a sense of being part of something”, and that’s what all volunteers are, they’re a key part of their own community whilst all being part of the wider community of amazing volunteers.
Waqas AlbajjariCommunity Champions
Waqas was a volunteer for Community Champions. He helped to translate health messages relating to Covid-19 and in his words “basic the complicated things”. Waqas is passionate about volunteering and believes that it can help people to develop their communication skills and improve their way of thinking. He got involved with volunteering because he wanted to help people and get more involved with the community. His advice to anything think about volunteering is “Just do it!”
Ann and Tony ChristianThackray Medical Museum
Useful and enjoyable” – “something to do.
For Ann and Tony volunteering is something to do, as rather altruistically described by Tony, whilst being more than that, Tony went on to tell me how it’s “something to do where you feel you can make a contribution to something you never thought you would”. After retiring as a teacher and an anesthetist Tony and Ann felt they could carry on contributing and giving back but in their own time and on more of their own terms.
Ann and Tony love the interactions volunteering allows them to have, they focus their role on greeting and talking with visitors. Tony, as a retired teacher, is great when school trips arrive, feeling right at home in a room full of easily distracted teenagers, whilst Ann has medical knowledge to impart and, alongside a friend, gives a talk on anesthesia. For Tony, volunteering is a great way to keep using his skills and experience after retirement.
Through their volunteering Ann and Tony have met some “really fascinating people” from all ages and places. That’s what keeps them coming back: “it’s just meeting people.”
Heathcliff HowardIntoUniversity
Heathcliff is a student and a volunteer. He volunteers for a charity that offers mentors to young people wanting to access higher education.
Heathcliff as a mentor has meetings with his Mentee on a regular basis to help them develop social, academic skills whilst showing them how many possibilities are available to them.
Heathcliff wants to give others the support he wished he had when he was younger. Being from a low-income background and now being the first in his family to go to university, he knows how important it is to be supported to access higher education and overcome obstacles. He aims to be a positive role model and make a difference to his mentee’s life, whilst reminding himself to ‘practice what he preaches.’
Heathcliff’s time volunteering helps him come back to what really matters for him, he wants to help others and make connections with people, and this has all been reaffirmed by his volunteering. This is all encouraged by the keenness of his mentee to learn and chat with him about their aims and the world around them.
Suzanne TobinHospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)
“Aspirational, satisfying, needed.”
“There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing someone smile when you’ve helped” – Suzanne is a volunteer coordinator, who began her career by volunteering for Leeds Bosom Buddies. They run hospital support and peer support groups for people who have just given birth. Their volunteering begins in the hospital where they work in the wards, going round to spend time with new mothers and offer support for mothers feeding their baby. They offer the chance to be listened to at an incredibly vulnerable time, because time is what they have, unlike hospital staff volunteers have more time to spend and talk with the new mothers.
Suzanne told me a story of women coming up to them and sharing their grief and experience of 50 years prior, when running a publicity booth. She told me how through this encounter she learnt how important it is to listen to people, so they don’t have to hold things in for the next 50 years.
Suzanne and her volunteers see people when they’re going through tough times, when they’re scared upset and in pain, but with their help the women can leave smiling. This for Suzanne offers both those supported and the volunteers themselves a sense of empowerment and satisfaction for helping someone or achieving a goal.
Sherin Ann SajiLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)
“Character improvement, confidence and motivation.”
Sherin’s volunteering has been a way for her to get out of her comfort zone and push herself to try new things. She described to me how she was a shy kid and as such didn’t want to sign up for things. Volunteering as a caller to those waiting for surgery is the perfect opportunity to both gain experience and learn new skills. Sherin makes phone calls to those on surgery waitlists to pass on information around useful services and help make sure people feel ready for the scary experience of surgery.
Sherin’s volunteering excites her because of all the amazing life experiences she hears, she told me “I’m quite young, I haven’t had that many life experiences but learning about theirs is just amazing, it’s something that keeps you going”. Alongside hearing about patient’s life experiences, volunteering has helped Sherin develop her career path. Currently a clinical science student, her experience interacting with patients has driven her desire to study medicine, and to be a part of making sure patients have great experiences with their doctors.
For Sherin volunteering is a way to build up her skills whilst boosting her CV and finding a path to take in the future.
Mike SandfordLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)
“Rewarding, thought provoking, challenging.”
Mike volunteers within St James’ hospital as a part of the Leeds Way Welcome team. He spends time greeting and directing patients as they enter and navigate around the hospital. But as Mike told me his role does a lot more than simple directions.
Mike’s interactions with people can be fleeting, offering directions within the hospital wing, or they can go further. Mike described situations in which he spends longer with patients and as part of this becomes a crucial ear to those who need some kindness and a calm voice as they navigate their hospital visit physically and emotionally.
Mike’s volunteering is motivated by the interactions he has with patients. He joked with me about his ‘pay packet’ being the moment someone takes his hand in theirs and says “thank you very much indeed”, these moments alongside the occasional hug show Mike that what he’s doing matters and he’s meeting his aim of making people’s stress laden visits to the hospital a little bit easier.
Lynda and Paul HogarthFarsley Rehoboth
“Community, Camaraderie and Friends.”
That’s how Lynda and Paul described their experience of volunteering to me, quickly followed by Paul describing how it’s kept them active “physically and probably more importantly mentally”.
The married couple told me how their volunteering helped them through the Covid pandemic by giving them the chance to get out and meet people outdoors.
Farsley Rehoboth means a lot to Lynda and Paul, they have a family tie to the cemetery and live in the neighborhood surrounding the cemetery, this makes the cemetery close to both Lynda and Paul’s and their community’s heart. Lynda even joked about their connection to the graveyard extending, as they have “booked our plot” and plan to lay at rest in the graveyard.
During my time at the Rehoboth, I had the graveyard described to me as “living”, despite this obvious contradiction you get the sense stepping into Farsley Rehoboth that the graveyard is changing and developing. This includes the internment of new people into the burial site and the work that goes into changing the space by the volunteers.
Paul and Lynda say, “the last four years have been incredible”, they want to encourage others to “make a difference”. All this while having “a lot of fun and a lot of laughs” as Paul jokes that the only rough days are chosen by the weather but that even those rainy days are drowned out by the many more fun days.
Johnathan and Christine IslesFarsley Rehoboth
“Give something back.”
Johnathan and Christine, like Paul and Lynda first started volunteering at Farsley Rehoboth due to a family connection with the graveyard, but it’s become so much more than that. They told me how excited they were to watch the gates open for the first time and that “seeing what could be done” is keeping them coming back.
The main thing emphasised to me by Johnathan and Christine was how amazing it is to see the progress at the Rehoboth. They said “even in the space of a week you notice a huge difference” and how “rewarding” and “satisfying” this progress is.
They both take on ad hoc roles around the Rehoboth, filling in when needed during their weekly volunteering shift. They described their role as “no skills needed” whilst understanding the importance of some of the skilled roles at the Rehoboth and the opportunities available to develop and learn new things, noting that basic gardening skills are often something taken for granted, and it’s amazing that the Rehoboth gives people the chance to learn these skills.
The community around Farsley Rehoboth really matters to Johnathan and Christine and the charity itself. They told me about the collection boxes in local shops and the pride they feel when they regularly come back full. That paired with more people becoming interested in and wandering around the site when they see the progress made by volunteers.
Christine and Johnathan would encourage others to “do it”, give volunteering a go, and that you’d be surprised with what you get out of it. They’ve seen it help them meet new people and assist with their own and others’ wellbeing.
Vivienne BateBeeston in Bloom
“Therapeutic, useful, enjoyable.”
“I’ve always been interested in gardening, and I love where I live, I’ve lived in Beeston for 84 years, and I’m fond of it so I like to do something that makes it better.”
Vivienne has been a volunteer at Beeston in Bloom since 2000 and has found it’s an amazing way to connect with her community. Some years ago, her volunteering led to her inclusion on a panel to help distribute Government funds to projects in Beeston, where she was amazed by just how many community groups there were.
Beeston in Bloom aims to improve the neighbourhood and Vivienne can attest to this gradual improvement, whether that’s via the litter picking offshoot or the gardening projects. Vivienne told me more about the history of Beeston and how this has integrated into the projects by Beeston in Bloom, she told me about the painted utility boxes, one of which represents the links Beeston has to mining.
For Vivienne volunteering has enriched her life, and in her own words “it’s sociable, fulfilling” and full of friendships.
Linda Stanley Beeston in Bloom
“Rewarding, friendship, community.”
The logo for Beeston in Bloom is “promote community pride”, they aim to improve their local area through gardening. Linda told me about the “precious green space” that Cross Flatts Park is, sitting in the heart of Beeston surrounded by houses. The park garden alongside borders, planters and painted utility boxes are all noticeable ways that the group, of which Linda is the secretary, makes a difference to the community.
When Linda retired early, she knew she’s need something to keep her busy, after going to a VAL pop up event, now open all the time at the Volunteer Centre in Kirkgate Market, Linda was able to fill out a questionnaire that paired her interests and location to the perfect volunteering role for her. Linda has since had the opportunity to take on more responsibility within Beeston in Bloom and now runs their social media, funding bids and organises their meetings.
By running the Facebook page Linda sees all the community support that gets behind the group, she also sees this support when people come up and have chats with her whilst she’s gardening, all of them appreciative of the effort that goes into maintaining the beautiful gardens. Gardening is not only a way for Linda to give back to her community, but it allows her to connect with it and learn more about the area she lives in.
Leroy IvanovBattle Scars
“learning”, “socialising” and “compassionate” are the three words Leroy Ivanov used to describe his experience volunteering.
Leroy volunteers for Battle Scars, a charity the supports people who self harm, their volunteers have all self harmed and Leroy told me this is important as “people have the tendency to be sympathetic to people like us but where we need empathy more than sympathy”. The ability to provide empathy to others going through similar struggles to himself has led Leroy to find out how caring he is and has really helped him learn more about himself.
Volunteering for Leroy is a way to help the community and get new skills at a time when his disability is preventing him from working. He is a Battle Scars ambassador, runs a peer support group and works to share information and improve people’s access to battle scars. Leroy points out how few people are aware of the help available for them until they find Battle Scars. This help extends to their volunteers who find “plain acceptance” when opening up about their self harm, there is “no shame and no hiding anything”.
Leroy shared his thoughts on the number of scams you hear about in day to day life, when it seems everyone is out to get everyone else. With this he pointed out to me how nice it is to be someone that another person knows they can trust. Being a volunteer and being able to take on that trustworthy role, even if it’s to have a 10-minute conversation with someone, can make their day, and in turn make a difference.
Ellie WrightBattle Scars
For Ellie, volunteering is about getting involved in communities and being a part of building their own community.
It’s also a way for them to feel empowered by contributing to causes they care about but would otherwise have felt it was impossible to make a difference in. Finally, for Ellie volunteering is a change to do something different. Finding new volunteering has helped them find new and exciting opportunities.
Ellie’s three words for volunteering were not only the opening of our chat but resonated throughout everything they said to me. Ellie has volunteered since being a teenager and this includes volunteering for Woodland Creations, a charity that runs days of tree planting across Leeds’ parks. It’s at these days that Ellie told me how nice it is to be surrounded by people all caring about the same thing, all working to “physically put something into the community”.
The volunteers here really care about the project and Ellie joked with me about how quickly the sign up sheets for volunteers get full. This volunteering role is one that Ellie takes on alongside volunteering for the charity Battle Scars. Ellie talked to me about how they’d found their community at Battle Scars, and the work that’s gone in from volunteers to create and build a space of safety, acceptance and peer support for those who self harm.
By being a part of this community Ellie saw their skills grow, slowly, but noticeably as they described to me how they now facilitate support groups, something that started out as a really scary thing but now is something where Ellie happily runs groups, something they never thought they’d do!
We’ve seen how volunteering has offered different opportunities to Ellie and how it allowed them to be a part of and build their own community. In their own words Ellie told me how “it’s quite easy sometimes to feel disempowered and there’s so many bad things happening in the world, but this is a small way to show that you can change things and act on the things you care about and it feels really good to be able to do that.”
Volunteering has empowered Ellie and given them the chance to make changes and contribute to their communities.
John TateBeeston in Bloom
“Making people happy.”
For John volunteering is about the joy and satisfaction he gets from doing the gardening work he loves and from other people enjoying and complementing the spaces he works so hard to maintain. John said, “it’s the feeling of satisfaction of making people happy.”
John found volunteering alongside his wife after he retired, and it’s been a way for him to keep active or in his words “get us out and not just vegetate”. He joked how Beeston in Bloom can ‘take over’, clarifying that it was in a good way, a way that gave him things to look forward to and plan for. His dedication to the community and gardening is clear, he was excited to tell me about new planting projects as well as trips to RHS gardens that serve as inspiration.
For John Beeston in Bloom and volunteering is about making other people happy while doing something good for himself. This combo is something he would encourage others to get involved with.