"Put your name down!"

Last Friday morning, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting with Beryl who has been volunteering at Manor Farm Community Association for approximately two years.

“I help people, I make them tea and coffee when they come in and make them feel welcome”

Beryl’s volunteering started after the death of her late husband four years ago.

“I started coming here in lockdown after my husband died. It hit me hard and I went to the church near Morrisons {Linking Lives, Aldridge}. They were all lovely and they asked if I wanted to start coming here, so I did! They all supported me when I came, and I want to give back what they gave to me.”

Although Beryl doesn’t attend Linking Lives now, she does keep in touch with people there and says she might just go back and show them her framed award for volunteering that she received on Sunday!

Beryl was nominated by Gayle, Community Development Manager at Manor Farm, for the WM 50 for 50 Volunteer Awards in Birmingham; a recognition celebration of all the amazing work that volunteers do across the West Midlands.  With a huge smile on her face, Beryl proudly tells me all about it!

“There was 730 people there! There was 150 people for this area, and I was one of two people nominated for the award. It was Gayle that nominated me; I knew I had been nominated because she had to ask me if it was ok. It was held at The Great Hall at The University of Birmingham and it was lovely. There was music, singers, dancers, a buffet and the Lord Lieutenant was there too on his final public job as he was retiring that day! The names and pictures of all the volunteers were going round on the big screens in the hall; I didn’t recognise myself in the picture and didn’t think it was me!”

Accompanying Beryl to the awards ceremony was her good friend, who she met at Manor Farm, Mary.

“I didn’t know her until she came to the bereavement group and now, we’re more like sisters. She rings me to see that I’m up and that I’ve had my breakfast and taken my tablets and I do the same for her too! When I knew I could take a guest, I thought, I’m taking Mary”.

Volunteering keeps Beryl busy and it’s clearly having a good effect on her!

“The best thing is meeting new people and helping them. My neighbour said that it looks like volunteering is doing me the world of good! I’m still buzzing from the awards on Sunday!”

Beryl tells me of all the other certificates she as been awarded after completing courses at Manor Farm in Computer Skills, Safeguarding, First Aid and is planning on completing her Food Hygiene one next to enable her to help with the handing out of food in the Silver Service group when she is needed.

Volunteering has given Beryl not only more friends and confidence but has also helped to improve her mobility. She tells me

 “I used to have to have someone walking at the side of me and someone walking behind me when I was on the stairs” and now Beryl volunteers as a Walk Leader for the weekly Bereavement group! “The bereavement walk is every Friday afternoon, 2pm-3pm at Walsall Arboretum and anyone can join. We meet whatever the weather by the café and go for different walks depending on the weather. Last week it was raining so we stayed in the café until it stopped then went for a walk round the lake, but this week, if it’s dry, we might do a longer walk! It’s good to be outside in the fresh air”.

Beryl attends Manor Farm four out of five days of the week and clearly enjoys her roles there. Everyone knows Beryl and she has a great relationship with all the staff; “especially Gayle”. She goes on to tell me she initially thought the nomination was “a joke or a scam” but Gayle encouraged her to respond to the invitation to the awards ceremony to say she would be attending.

The confidence volunteering has given Beryl is obvious to see.

“That’s what I want to show others; if I can do it, they can as well. My advice to other people would be to put your name down for volunteering and give it a try. Before I came here, {Manor Farm}, I wanted to help out at Christmas time with Homelessness charities, but I didn’t know where to go or what to do. There are lots of volunteer roles available; I’m waiting to start as a befriender too; visiting people in their homes when we have people who need that.”

Beryl’s framed award takes pride of place on the table as we chat and has even been the reason she has regained contact with her younger brother after sending him a picture and telling him about it.  

An award well deserved I would add; Beryl lights up the room with her infectious smile and cheerful disposition and has certainly made this a #FeelGoodFriday!