My volunteer story - Valerie

From Wimbledon Guild volunteer, to befriendee - Valerie shares her volunteer story.

I first started volunteering with Wimbledon Guild back when the charity was still delivering Meals on Wheels. I’d recently lost my husband of 50 years and needed something to focus my attentions on. 

I helped out at the Stroke club and enjoyed it so much I offered to volunteer in the Wimbledon Guild Day Centre too. Before long I was volunteering at the Stroke Club on Monday, the Day Centre on Tuesday and was helping out at the Ladies Club on a Wednesday. I loved it! It was a pleasure to help look after others. I’d still be volunteering now if I hadn’t had to stop due to ill health. I even received a medal for my volunteering work from the Mayor of London. 

Wimbledon Guild has changed a lot since my first involvement with the charity. And, although I can’t visit in person anymore, I now have a volunteer befriender who visited regularly before lockdown, and now rings me every week. 

Thank you Valerie! All this week we're celebrating Volunteers' Week (1st-7th June) by sharing stories from some of our wonderful volunteers so do check back for more!