Stan Rose volunteers with the Dorcas Befriending Project
and Age Concern Islington.
As a child, I grew up in an unhappy home in the midst of parental discord and
was often on the receiving end of my father’s anger. This had a negative
effect on my development, affecting my self-esteem and self-confidence as an
adult, and later impacting on my own marriage, which ended finally in divorce.
This lack of self-confidence has affected me a great deal of my life and I have
struggled with it. However, becoming a volunteer has helped to allay my fears
and given me an incentive to do a worthwhile job which I enjoy to the full. I
felt confident with the training I received from both organisations, which I
might add was adept in their content, and I am very thankful for this. Befriending
people who live on their own is certainly a worthwhile experience for me, and
so is visiting people home from hospital needing assistance to re-adjust.
Has being a volunteer given me a lifeline? Most definitely! I have walked the
road ahead with confidence and a modest sense of pride.
I would encourage anyone to become a volunteer knowing that they won’t
regret giving of themselves to help those people who inwardly are crying out
to be recognised.
Don’t be perturbed if you yourself are a senior citizen. I am 77 years
of age.
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