Volunteer of the Month – September

This month’s volunteer is the fantastic Dot Milner! Dot has truly aided the Strode Park Foundation in more ways than one.

Dot was an employee for the Strode Park Foundation for 5 years and has now been retired for 2 years. Since starting her employment until present Dot has become an integral volunteer and regularly supports the Foundation.

There isn’t a volunteering role that Dot doesn’t do. Dot helps within the charity shop every single week alongside this Dot helps regularly at all our events. Following from this Dot will put her skills into any task at hand, no job is too difficult!

We asked Dot if she had a favourite memory while volunteering, Dot said: ‘My favourite thing about volunteering is getting to know the other volunteers and making new friends, meeting and chatting to all the customers who come into the charity shop and just keeping in touch with everyone at Strode Park when I am there for Theatre in the Park. Since retiring, it is good to have a routine of working in the charity shop every week.’

Volunteering has many benefits, but a major one is making friends as Dot said this one of her favourite things. As well as making friends volunteering can be very satisfying and when asked what one word Dot would use to describe volunteering, she said ‘satisfying’. It provides a sense of satisfaction because you can see the change you are making in the residents lives every day.

Finally, Dot was asked if she would recommend volunteering for the Strode Park Foundation and she said ‘I would definitely recommend volunteering to anyone who is thinking about it. There are so many ways in which someone can help out at Strode Park such as helping in the charity shop, sorting out and/or steaming clothes, helping at functions such as Theatre in the Park or seasonal events, getting involved with the residents ie playing games with them or reading with them or just having a chat. It doesn’t take a lot to be a volunteer, you can give as much or little time as you can spare, but it means a lot to the people who live and work at Strode Park.’

Volunteering is flexible with the Strode Park Foundation, we work to your needs and wants, if you can only work an hour or a whole day or only volunteer once, we can accommodate you.

Thank you, Dot, for all your continued hard work, we couldn’t provide the wonderful care that we do, without your support.

If you are interested in volunteering and giving the gift of time, then please either call 01227 373292 or email volunteering@strodepark.org.uk.