Volunteer Team
Hear from some of the volunteers directly and understand more about them,
why they volunteer and the MCFT.
Mark
Trish
Mark has volunteered with MCFT for over nine years. Originally volunteering to help with cleaning in the old offices, Mark turned his hand to working on the allotment, carrying out digging, planting, donating a variety of seeds from home, pruning, watering, harvesting and some general DIY, and becoming one of MCFT’s die-hard volunteers – there in all weathers.
“I’ve recently helped the food club, keeping track of the money coming in!”
Her journey with Merstham began at a difficult time in her life. After finishing a work contract and struggling to find a new job, Trish’s confidence had dipped. “I wasn’t very well,” she recalls. “My doctor suggested I go over the road to the hub and do a bit of voluntary work while I waited for something new. So I did, and I never looked back.”
What started as a way to fill her time quickly became a lifeline, both for her and for many others in the community.
For Trish, the rewards of volunteering go far beyond recognition. “It’s so good for your soul,” she says. “It’s good for you and it’s good for others. You’ve got to enjoy it. I love it. I get up in the morning and think, ‘I’ve got Food Club today.’ We have teas and coffees, people chat, and it feels like a little family.”
That sense of belonging is what she values most. “Some people wouldn’t see anyone all week if it weren’t for this,” she says. “It might seem small, but it’s everything to them. And when someone tells you how much it means, you realise how important it is.”
Liz
Liz began volunteering in 2010 initially with MCFT’s IT Café and Job Club, as she was looking for something useful to do whilst on a career break. Currently, she organises the Merstham Wildlife Sightings and Guide.
“I’ve lived in Merstham over 25 years and I’ve always been interested in the great outdoors, walking and wildlife. The Merstham Wildlife and Sightings guide has been really inspiring. Seeing everyone share pictures, videos, ideas and routes has been very interesting. During lockdown, I enjoyed rediscovering some old familiar footpaths and finding local new ones. As my family know, I really hate staying indoors! For my mental and physical wellbeing, it’s been marvellous to get outdoors and to share and connect with others.”