JanineDerek, a former soldier, found a new purpose in volunteering with Age UK after joining a study on personalized care. He met Max, his coordinator, who challenged him to step outside his comfort zone and try new activities. Derek made new friends, discovered his passion for Nordic Walking, and is now helping others at the Recovery Hub.
From Client to Volunteer
Hello, my name is Derek and I’m a Ways to Wellbeing Volunteer with Age UK at Bradbury House in Leeds.
It all started when I was invited by my GP to become involved with the PROSPER Study, personalised care planning for older people. I wasn’t so sure to start with because, at 67, I don’t consider myself to be old! But hey, why not, let’s give it a go as I had nothing to lose.
After an initial assessment, I got paired up with Max, who was my Personal Independence Coordinator. Max was himself a former volunteer with Age UK now one of their excellent Wellbeing Activity Coordinators. From the outset, Max challenged my dull routine and whilst I was a keen walker, I walked on my own and just locally where I lived. He pushed my boundaries ever further beyond my comfort zone and set me realistic objectives. I was motivated, and oddly enough I felt younger! By achieving these objectives, I graduated in June 2023. Max has recently moved on to a similar role in a much larger organisation, but we keep in touch and remain firm friends.
Even before my graduation, my first visit to Bradbury House at Age UK was to join a Walking and Photography project run by Max and it was very good! Since then, I have found myself making new friends, trying new activities, and doing things that I have perhaps not done in years. I have attended every session on the current activity programme and gained an awful lot. Yet my real passion is Nordic Walking, and I am looking forward to spring when, hopefully, outdoor activities will be back on the programme.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Age UK and that is primarily due to the hard work of the staff and volunteers engaged there. Before Age UK I used to pound the streets on my own. I still do that now, but occasionally I hop on a bus and meet with a friend I met at Age UK, and we visit parks and estates to walk around together. Making new friends has been an important element of being part of the Age UK family.
I began to realise there was still something missing for me. I could be part of this. Max mentioned it to me in the summer of ’23 and Martin, another Coordinator often mentions it. Why not volunteer? I discussed it with Jacqui, another coordinator who said I’d be perfect. Well, I’d give it my best shot for sure, and here I am!
The application form was easy, just like any job application, just be honest and true to yourself, and you stand a good chance. The mandatory checks can be a bit daunting, but they are nothing to worry about.
For me, the transition didn’t take too long, probably less than 3 weeks! Already I’m lifting the ladle with our Social Over Soup, making teas after Moving with Confidence, and talking too much when I should be working at Get Creative! A highlight of my week must be my visit to the Recovery Hub @ East Leeds in Seacroft. This is an amazing place, and the staff here do a wonderful job looking after some extremely vulnerable people. I can talk the talk but here I need to be a good listener too.
So, I’m a Sotonian (from Southampton) by birth and was fortunate to meet a Cross Gates lass in the late seventies whilst we were both serving in the Army in Germany. We were married in September 1979 and settled in South Leeds in the early nineties with our young family. I stayed in the Army until mid-1994. Since then, I have worked in mobile telecommunications and after being made redundant I worked for the railways with the latter being the perfect vehicle in preparation for retirement!
And here I am today, busier than I have ever been yet very happy! Volunteering reminds me of an old Army saying, ‘One volunteer is better than ten pressed men’. Still true to this day!
