Celebrating the work of volunteers
Supporting the community food pantry and regular events at Christ Church in Ramsbottom, Jean is one of the 14.2 million people in the UK who volunteer least once a month. She said: “Making a difference to peoples’ lives is incredibly rewarding. Everyone needs bit of kindness, joy and hope.”
Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) is an annual UK-wide event celebrating the contribution of volunteers. Social prescribers working with Bury’s GP practices described the help of volunteers as “absolutely amazing” in supporting the team’s social drop-ins, arts and craft sessions, mental health and learning disabilities events, plus walks and outdoor activities.
Social prescribers, Sonia Javed and Demi Kinsella, work with patients to address the social, emotional and practical needs to improve peoples’ mental and physical health and wellbeing. They said: “Volunteers are the unsung heroes of our service. They organise endless refreshments at community drop-in events and provide hands-on support with multiple activities. This is hugely appreciated and enables us to have more one-to-one time with patients.”
Working with the social prescribing team, Jean was instrumental in establishing the monthly Tuesday Memory Club and gathering a team of volunteers. She says: “It has grown in the past year and now welcomes 30 regular attendees including those living with dementia plus their families/carers, older people and those who are isolated. It’s a special place to many people including the volunteers.”
The club’s dementia-friendly activities – from reminiscing, crafts and music – and the warm welcome and support of the volunteers has been “incredible” says Tony McDermott, whose mum Sylvia was diagnosed with dementia in 2023.
Tony says: “Dementia is a very cruel disease. It is distressing for the family – and for those living with dementia - as confusion and unfamiliarity take hold. Mum finds it almost impossible to recall events in her life and can struggle to recognise family and friends. Mum has always been a very outgoing person enjoying dancing, yoga, and working in businesses from the cotton mills to hospitality. Her ‘try anything’ attitude and great sense of humour always made her popular.
Since the diagnosis she has remained positive. She also enjoys a quick half of Guinness and black in the pub where she was once a regular. But it’s not easy watching a loved one lose memories of shared experiences.
Tony says that attending the Tuesday Memory Club with Sylvia has been “uplifting.” He adds: “The warm welcome, music, activities and importantly, the social contact, is wonderful. Mum’s memory span is very short but she can recall events from the club after we get home. This has a huge, positive impact on her well-being. I can’t praise the team enough. Thank you to Demi and Sonia for the organisation and support, and Janet and Jean for being so kind and patient with mum. Social prescribers and the army of volunteers are amazing. We feel privileged to have this on our doorstep.”
Social prescriber, Sonia, added: “Volunteers are at the heart of so many community activities and their efforts should be celebrated. We have also found that volunteering can benefit patients’ health and wellbeing.”
Memory Club volunteer, Janet Richardson, agrees: “It’s a wonderful privilege and a real pleasure to listen to peoples’ stories and spread a bit of happiness. It’s also brought me joy after a tough time health wise.”
Having previously been involved in community work with the National Football Museum in Manchester, Janet saw how football artefacts, such as old leather balls and rattles, prompted conversations and memories for those living with dementia. This inspired her to support the Tuesday Memory Club and take time to talk to people and reminisce about their lives.
Janet said: “Volunteering is more than simply supporting other people. You often get back more than you give. I have met some fabulous characters – including a former Walt Disney worker – and it’s a delight to share peoples’ stories. It’s given me enormous pleasure and I’m happy to help the social prescribing team after they supported me following cancer and a broken hip.”
Jean added: “It’s wonderful to be part of such a positive team of volunteers. Just spending time with other people is something everyone can do, and it can make such a difference.”
The Tuesday Memory Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Christ Church, Great Eaves Road, Ramsbottom, BL0 0PX. It will be marking its one-year anniversary with a celebration on Tuesday 2nd June from 13.30 - 15.00.
