Volunteer stories

Sight Support Worthing involves volunteers in the running of our charity on a daily basis.  They will be there for member support, from being a sighted guide for a person with a vision impairment when out and about, driving people to medical appointments, making a phone call to check in with someone or providing refreshments in our centre for events.  

Volunteering has always been part of my life, and that certainly attracted me to working within the charity sector in the role as Volunteer Coordinator.  Volunteering is more than just doing a good deed; it is a lifestyle.  It is a two-way deal, and people who choose to volunteer are caring, open-minded, compassionate, and active members of the community.  I love spending time with people who choose this lifestyle! 

Volunteers are the beating heart of our charity.  They allow us to provide all the important services to our members and reach out to new people who do not know we are here.  They enable us to make sure that any funding or donations we receive can go straight into the charity to benefit our members and help as many people as possible who are living with a visual impairment. 

That it does not take much to make a difference, but that difference can mean the whole world to someone and really impact their life in a positive way.  

I started volunteering with Pelican Parcels after I saw the amazing work the charity does for the families I refer in my paid job as a Health Visitor. I wanted to give back to this wonderful charity and to say thank you on behalf of the families I’ve worked with who have benefited from their generosity.

I love the satisfaction of putting together parcels for children knowing how incredibly life changing they are, giving to families in desperate need of support. And I have fallen in love with the amazing Pelican Parcels team – they have the biggest hearts imaginable. 

Definitely choosing Christmas presents the last few years. I have the enviable task of being able to deliver the presents to families and seeing their priceless reactions. I feel so privileged! 

All you need is a good heart, a smile and a sense of humour; there is a lot of laughing in the warehouse!

I joined Sussex Interpreting Services as a social prescribing volunteer about 18 months ago.  I wanted to help those who could only speak my language when they move to the UK. I also believe that getting involved in volunteering work can help me to have a better understanding of and integration into the community where I am. 

I have been matched with around 10 service users so far.  Most of their queries could be solved in a short time, while some can take several months or even over a year. I help by translating letters, booking GP appointments, or navigating different kinds of public services like the DWP.

Not only are the service users feeling grateful, but also these were rewarding experiences to me. I know more about how different departments work or what local services are available.  Most important is when service users share their stories and the struggles that they had been facing; these are valuable interactions between humans. People feel they are cared for and get peace of mind as they could always ask for help from SIS.