DONATE SHOP
DONATE

Tag: #volunteerinhuddersfield

Volunteer Of The Month: November 2024

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Janet who volunteers as a Community Friend. We caught up with Janet to hear about her Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m in my 60’s just about to officially become a pensioner-eek. I’ve been married to Greg for 45 years this month, we have 4 children and 7 grandchildren and our little dog Poppy. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going out for meals, walking, swimming, reading and baking.

How long have you been volunteering for the charity: Since 2020, I started telephone befriending during lockdown.

Tell us about a typical day in your role: I had 2 ladies who now are personal friends, one I visit every week and the other I speak to on the phone every week. My 3rd lady I visit on a weekly basis with my dog. So it can be a chat with a cuppa or a bit of a walk if she’s well enough. . I usually spend a couple of hours with each one of them. They keep me entertained and I just love spending time with them.

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures? I’ve always worked and volunteered around younger people from when my own children were tiny, but when my Dad developed dementia I realised that there was a big gap in respect of time given to elderly people, who I came to realise through the situation with my Dad also desperately needed stimulation, time and support. When my Dad passed away in 2017, followed by my mother in law in 2018 something was missing, that link with the older generation. I luckily saw an advert on Facebook for telephone volunteers and as I’m very sociable person and love to chat I thought it would be perfect for me. I knew I could free up a few hours a week to do this as we all now know people were terribly isolated during lockdown.

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Fresh Futures? Go for it. It is so rewarding if you are matched with the right person. It has enriched my life so much and I’m sure it will yours.

A poster that says volunteer of the month at the top, under the title is 4 different coloured hands stretching up, then underneath is a picture of a woman holding a drink and smiling at the camera.
Janet Sheard – Volunteer of the Month

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Janet, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]

Volunteer Of The Month – October 2024

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Alan who volunteers as a Community Friend. We caught up with Alan to hear about his Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Alan Moore, I was widowed in 1995 so I have some understanding of the effects losing someone close has. I am a retired engineer working for local company, Thomas Broadbent.

Tell us about a typical day in your role: 

My usual volunteering day is a visit to the gym trying to keep fit, home for lunch then off to my friend to help him pass the afternoon.

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures? 

I was looking for something rewarding, worthwhile and fulfilling to help pass some of the spare time I now have.

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Fresh Futures?

 For anyone thinking about volunteering, I would say DO IT. It gives me purpose to my visiting days and I get a lot out of our friendship. So much so that I am looking at trying to find another opportunity.

The image says volunteer of the month at the top, under this title is 4 coloured hands stretched up, below these is a selfie style picture of a man standing in front of a bush, looking at the camera.
Alan Moore – Volunteer of the Month

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Alan, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]

Volunteer Of The Month – September 2024

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Liyan who volunteers as a data analyst at Fresh Futures.

We caught up with Liyan to hear about her Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

How long have you been volunteering for the charity? 

I’ve been volunteering since November 2023.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m Liyan, currently volunteering as a data analyst with Fresh Futures. I love working with data, transforming it into meaningful insights that can drive decisions and improve outcomes. It’s been a rewarding experience to contribute my skills to a cause that makes a positive impact.

Tell us about your volunteering role: 

My role involves analysing data to inform decisions, which contributes to advancing key projects and improving overall outcomes.

Tell us about a typical day in your role: 

A typical day involves collaborating with team members to analyse and present data through detailed graphic reports, focusing on Kirklees and the services Fresh Futures provides. I also analyse social media competitors to help optimize our outreach efforts and track the effectiveness of various initiatives.

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures?

 I wanted to use my data analysis skills to make a meaningful impact in the community, and Fresh Futures provided the ideal opportunity to do just that.

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Fresh Futures? 

Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding way to develop your skills while making a real impact. If you’re passionate about creating positive change, Fresh Futures offers a fantastic platform to contribute meaningfully and grow both personally and professionally.

the image shows a poster that shows a woman, smiling posing for the camera, she has dark long hair. Around the image it says Liyan Shaikh along with an image of different coloured hands up in the air and the words ' volunteer of the month'. There is a red border around the whole poster.

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Liyan, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]

Volunteer Of The Month: August 2024

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Joe who has been helping the charity with content creation and social media management.

We caught up with Joe to hear about his Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

How long have you been volunteering for the charity? 

Around 3 months

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m a writer, editor, and musician. In my spare time, I sing in 2 bands, one of which I’m also in full drag. If you couldn’t tell, I’m horrendously confident.

Tell us about your volunteering role:

I take the content creation and social media management skills I have gained through my career and I use it to help the charity improve their social media engagement and footprint. From creating analytics reports to creating graphics and pictures or video reels.

Tell us about a typical day in your role:

I assess the social media engagement and trends for the charity and try to understand what things are working with their audience and what things aren’t. Sometimes I will create content based around the needs of their upcoming campaigns.

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures?

I wanted to gain some experience while also contributing to a good cause.

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Fresh Futures? 

Do it! It’s for a good cause, it’s good for your CV, what do you have to lose?

the image shows a poster celebrating the volunteer of the month. There is an image of a man posing for a selfie, he has brown short hair and wears a black and white stripy top. The name 'Joe Hallas' is above the image as well as 4 different coloured hands reaching upwards.

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Joe, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]

Volunteer of The Month: July 2024

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Rosemary Howe who volunteers for the charity as a Community Friend volunteer.

We caught up with Rosemary to hear about her Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

How long have you been volunteering for the charity? 

I started volunteering a month or two before COVID hit, just before the Christmas period. I’d just started visiting my first friend when we had to move over to the telephone. We chatted over the phone through the entire duration of COVID, and then started meeting up again after that. After around 3 years I was matched with my current friend. It must have been over four years since I started now.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m a people person – I love talking to people. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, like running a small post office for around six years, working in retail, and on a market. When I got married, I inherited 4 stepdaughters – and then had two children of my own! But now I live on my own, so I know how it feels to be alone.

Tell us about your volunteering role: 

In my volunteer role as a befriender, it’s important to show an interest. It doesn’t matter what you talk about, I just chatter away. There must be moments where I bore the pants out of my friend. But for him it’s something outside of the usual, its someone coming in with a different mindset.

Tell us about a typical day in your role: 

I visit my friend; we sit and chat and sometimes have a cup of tea. I tell him a lot about my life, but he also asks me a lot of questions and asks for my advice. I think he likes to use me as a sounding board when he’s unsure about things.

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures? 

The reason I wanted to start volunteering is because I know what it’s like to be alone. I was looking after my husband for 8 years, but during that time, there were moments where I felt isolated, as he spent a lot of time sleeping and watching the TV. I felt like I had lost him long before he had died, which made me feel very much like I had been on my own for a long time. When I moved, I knew I had to make an effort to go out and meet people. As I’m still fairly mobile and have my car I’m able to volunteer and help others, so I will go on doing this as long as I can.

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Fresh Futures? 

To become a befriender, I think you’ve got to be patient and appreciate that the person you are visiting might feel frustrated to be in that situation. They will probably be very pleased to see you, but at the same time they might be feeling like things in their life were not meant to be that way. But if you succeed in brightening their day, it’s really worthwhile.

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Rosemary, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]