“It’s lively and there are always lots of hugs!”

At Millbrook Marketplace, Cat works as a volunteer.  She used to be a busy lady running a charity with a friend whilst also caring for her adult daughter who was very unwell.  But 2 years ago everything changed when her daughter passed away and then her partner in the charity lost his health battles too.  She says, if you have ever suffered a close bereavement you’ll know that many people disappear from you at that time, unsure of how to help or even what to say. She couldn’t run the charity alone as it was too much and she lost contact with everyone.

Cat knew she needed to find a new community and be busy again so she started volunteering.

Although it wasn’t the first role she had tried, she started volunteering with Southampton City Mission about a year ago and is still loving it!  “It’s the people”, she says “and not just the friendly team, but the people who come. It’s lively and there are always lots of hugs!”. Her friend and colleague, Maggie, concurs… “I can’t speak highly enough of the team of volunteers we work with,” Maggie says.  “It doesn’t just get me out so I’m not lonely at home, I have a laugh with everyone.  There is such great teamwork, everyone respects each other and looks after one another.”

Cat comments that the supervisors have really helped her fit in and feel at home by allowing her to find the role she is most comfortable with, “they don’t just tell you what to do” she says.  Equally, the role Cat plays has actually surprised her.  She has found how much she loves to talk to the Marketplace members and offer support. That could be around day to day living, family and relationship challenges, or anything at all.  She says that people seem to naturally feel comfortable talking to her and telling her their issues, and in turn, she has loved being able to offer helpful advice or comfort. Many of the members of the Marketplace live in difficult circumstances and Cat has enjoyed how “real” people are about life!  But it’s not just been one way.  She has also been able to open up about her daughter and was so touched when a lady came to Marketplace having remembered their conversation the week before and brought with her a lovely gift she had made for Cat to remember her daughter by.

Cat really looks forward to coming and when she was away on holiday, she noticed how much she missed the people, “…it felt like ages!” she says. It’s wonderful to hear her describe the whole experience as having made her so happy. ”I need structure in my life, and this has done that for me.  I intend to keep doing it as long as I can.”

If you would like to try volunteering with Southampton City Mission, just get in touch at hello@southamptoncitymission.co.uk and we’d be delighted to help you find a place doing something you love.