It’s really important that we take the time to recognise our volunteers – as without them, the charity would not be able to help so many people across the community.
Each month we recognise a Fresh Futures Volunteer that has gone above and beyond in their role. Kicking off 2022, is Tracey Twizell, who volunteers as a face-to-face befriender. We caught up with Tracy earlier this month and asked her a few questions…
Name: Tracey Twizell
Tell us a little about yourself? I am 58 years old and was lucky enough to retire from working four years ago, along with my husband Michael.
How long have you been volunteering for the charity? I have been volunteering now for three years.
Explain your volunteering role: My role as a volunteer is to try and visit my befriender once a week, plus a cosy telephone chat one or twice a week. I have also done shopping on occasion for her, and if I have been baking, I will take some cake or home-made soup to my befriender.
What made you want to start volunteering with YCC? When I first retired, I found I had a lot of time on my hands and I knew I wanted to help someone, although at the time I didn’t know how.
Sum up a typical day of volunteering for you? Initially I would visit my befriended every Wednesday afternoon pre-Covid. Then, we could only telephone which still worked for us, and now it’s a mix of both of these forms of keeping in touch.
And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with YCC? I would just like to say that I find the older generation have so much to offer, both in life experiences and humour. I find it so rewarding being in their company, and they should most definitely not be dismissed as the past generation. If anyone is considering volunteering, I would highly recommend it and I hope you are as lucky in your chosen befriended as I have been.
If you are considering becoming a face-to-face or telephone befriender, please contact Lucy, YCC’s Volunteering Development Officer, on 07849 398829 or [email protected].