Volunteer Stories

 

Sarah – Our Chair

“Five years ago, after moving to Whitchurch Hill and reducing my working week to four days, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. That’s when I discovered Woodcote Volunteers – and became a driver.  Driving for the charity is a win-win:  not only does it provide a much-needed service to our local community, it gives me the chance to:

• Meet fascinating people and hear their stories
• Give something back without a huge time commitment
• Feel the gratitude of those we help – something you can truly see and feel

The more I drove, the more I realised what an incredible service Woodcote Volunteers provides. It’s not just about transport – it’s about connection. From regular coffee mornings to tea parties, the charity creates social opportunities that combat isolation.

So, when the Chair position became available, I was delighted to put my name forward. Working with such an experienced and passionate committee has made the transition easy – and inspiring.  Even after 40+ years, Woodcote Volunteers continues to adapt. This year, we launched a Digital Support service, offering one-to-one help for people who want to get online safely and confidently. It’s just one example of how we’re finding new ways to support those in Woodcote and surrounding villages who experience isolation.

I have found being part of Woodcote Volunteers is rewarding, meaningful, and fun..”

Tim – an office volunteer

“I became an office volunteer in October 2021 after being “recruited” at the Woodcote Village Fete. Now retired, I have more time on my hands and wanted to do something of benefit to the village where I’ve been lucky enough to live for the past 30 years. 

The office is manned from 9.30 to 11.00 every weekday morning by two people. Different volunteers work each day, so my only commitment is an hour and a half every week. If I’m on holiday or can’t make my slot for any reason, then there’s always someone else on the team happy to stand in. Likewise, I may be asked to cover for someone who is away. 

The job is very straightforward – we take phone calls from clients who require transport and log the details on our automated booking system. If the request is urgent we will work through a list of potential drivers, calling each in turn until we find someone who can take the job. However most requests are handled by the system, which sends out an email at noon each weekday to all our volunteer drivers with the details of available bookings. A driver can then select a booking that suits them and the system is updated automatically. Most requests are for trips to local health centres, hospitals and shops, but some can simply be for a driver to pick up a prescription and deliver it to the client’s home.

You meet some interesting people and after a while you get to know the regular clients. They are very appreciative of what Woodcote Volunteers do, and this makes the job really worthwhile. I’ve also made new friends with my fellow office volunteers and even if we don’t get any calls at all, it’s a very pleasant way to spend a morning! If you have time on your hands and you want to give something back to the community then I would thoroughly recommend joining the team.”