Celebrating Volunteers' Week 2021: Claire

"Volunteering is the best thing I’ve ever done - it’s given me so much joy and companionship"

To celebrate Volunteers' Week 2021, we spoke to some of our wonderful volunteers to find out what volunteering means to them. 

Here's Claire's story:

"I have been a Wimbledon Guild volunteer since 2018. I started helping at the weekly Stroke Exercise class and am now also involved in the Dancing with Parkinson’s class. 

It’s wonderful and something I never thought I’d be doing, having spent my working life in an office. Seeing the difference in people from the start of the class to when they’ve finished is like magic! They come in walking with their heads down, quiet and reserved, and by the time we’re having a cup of tea and a chat at the end of the class they’ve completely come alive, with their head held high and sometimes even walking unaided.

I can’t emphasise enough how much volunteering has given me. It’s wonderful meeting new people and I’ve made some great friendships with the other volunteers – we meet up to go for lovely walks and exchange recipes and garden cuttings. Volunteering is the best thing I’ve ever done - it’s given me so much joy and companionship."

Thank you Claire! And thank you to all our wonderful volunteers - we couldn't do it without you.

If Claire's story has inspired you to give something back, and get a lot in return, find out more about volunteering with Wimbledon Guild.