I’m proud of keeping our group going
Rebecca has been volunteering for us for 13 years. She tells us what she enjoys about her many roles and about some of her achievements, including securing £50,000 in grants for her group.
After being diagnosed with MS in 1992, I didn’t join my local Chorley and Leyland MS Group right away. Before joining, I felt reasonably healthy. I was still working full time and my husband and I were going to ballroom dancing lessons several times a week.
In 2010, I wanted to go to the group’s Christmas meal which was at a venue I liked the look of. I didn’t realise at the time that you could just turn up for the meal, so we went along to some meetings leading up to it. Everyone made me feel so welcome, I’ve never looked back!
Using and lending my skills
I learnt that the group was struggling for Coordinating Team Volunteers, so I started helping by taking meeting minutes. I was then invited to become secretary for the group (now known as an Admin Volunteer).
In late 2012, we needed a new Finance Volunteer. As I’m a qualified chartered accountant, it made sense to take on the role. At the time, groups were moving onto online accounting and online banking. I love computers so I enjoyed getting us set up on those. I’m also the Newsletter Editor and a Fundraising Volunteer.
When the Group Coordinator resigned in 2022, I agreed to also take on the role temporarily. And here I still am! Whilst I do have the time since retiring in 2015, having so many roles is challenging. I really think we’d benefit from a new Group Coordinator who’d be better at attracting new people to come to meetings and join in. I don’t think that’s my strength, and I prefer the admin-focussed roles more.
I’m currently acting as the Finance Volunteer for two other groups in the county, and have previously helped out a couple of others to get going. I’m spreading myself across Lancashire! I don’t mind though. It doesn’t take up much time as it’s computer-based and the other groups don’t have many transactions. Once we’ve set them up with online banking, everything runs relatively smoothly. I’m glad I can help.
Staying active
As a person with MS, I think it’s important to stay as mentally and physically active as you can. We offer people in our area home-based physio, podiatry, reflexology and talking therapy. We also provide two online seated exercise classes per week, fortnightly face-to-face seated exercise classes and weekly hydrotherapy sessions at a local pool.
We meet monthly in the evening at a local pub and monthly at lunchtime at a local coffee shop. We also have a monthly get-together, for which I try to arrange speakers. Personally, I can’t get out without help anymore, so I do all the online classes and my husband kindly takes me to the hydro and evening meetings.
Connection is important
We still have a monthly online meeting going from lockdown but not many people come to that now. We ran it weekly at the beginning and I think it helped people stay connected then. Connection is important. It helps to talk to people, not only about MS, but about every other aspect of life – including cricket – so I’d like to see more people at our sessions.
Somebody who comes to our meetings regularly says that, whilst we might not have saved his life, we made him feel a hell of a lot better about it. It’s rewarding when you can help people feel more positive about things.
Securing grants has helped our group to keep going!
Volunteering gives me something to focus on now that I no longer go to work. My biggest volunteering achievement is continuously bringing in funds so we can keep providing the services that we do, as well as start new services.
Since 2017, I’ve secured nearly £50,000 by applying for grants. Most recently we were given an £18,500 lottery grant. I receive a regular email from the council which details funds we might be eligible to apply for, which is useful. We also do fundraising events and bucket collections. And if we’re ever a bit low on money, I’ll somehow find us more. That’s just what I do.
The thing I most enjoy about volunteering is that I can do it online and I can meet people virtually during the classes which is fun. I’m not really one to sit at home and wallow. I don’t do self-pity. I don’t have time for that!
I’d recommend volunteering to anyone. It will enhance (or possibly takeover) your life if you enjoy it. It will take you out of your comfort zone and you’ll meet so many new people and gain new experiences.
You may also be interested in
