Jill: Older People’s Club Volunteer

Jill Mills: VolunteerDaniela Westcott is the Older People’s Volunteer Coordinator for Hove YMCA. Her volunteers help run a lunch and activity club for people of 60 and over at Hove YMCA in Marmion Road, Hove. Good wholesome meals are cooked on the premises and there are activities including board games, soft bowls, table tennis, reminiscence, and art and craft. Jill Mills has worked as a volunteer there for a year and a half helping the cook with food preparation, setting the tables, and serving the lunches. She also helps with the activities and outings.

Haeji asked Jill about her volunteering experiences:

Haeji: What have you been doing today?
Jill: I’ve helped prepare the lunch, the salad and the flan. I then served the food and sat with the older people and chatted with them. I cleared up and then normally I would sit down, chat, play games and get involved in whatever is happening.

Haeji: What other things, if any, do you do with Hove YMCA?
Jill: I do every Thursday and once a month we do outings on the bus – to garden centres, museums, whatever might be interesting. We went to the Royal Pavilion, that was really nice. We stop for coffee and more chats! You see the older people in a different light socially then.

Haeji: What do you do outside of Hove YMCA?
Jill: I’m retired and my husband died 2 years ago so I live on my own. But I have lots of friends I do things with. Like a younger friend of mine, we go for long walks, for about 12 miles normally! I like swimming and all sorts. But Thursdays is a day I know I can come here!

Haeji: How did you first get involved with Hove YMCA?
Jill: A friend of the family worked at the council with an older people’s scheme. I was talking to him at my daughter’s party and he suggested I could come the YMCA. I then go in contact and came to meet Daniela. I went to on an outing and never looked back!

Haeji: What’s the best thing about volunteering?
Jill: It makes you feel really good. I hope the people enjoy me being here – they seem to. They chat a lot and it’s good to find out what they do. Everyone’s really friendly.

Haeji: Is there anything you’ve found difficult or challenging about volunteering?
Jill: Not really. I was a bit nervous as I’d never done this before. I used to work with children, in nurseries. We’re never sure of ourselves, are we? But it’s been easy to work with people here. It fell into place. Sometimes we provide the children and young people here too, it’s a really busy place.

Haeji: What’s the most fun bit about volunteering?
Jill: Just meeting all the different people. I know I can come away from my house once a week and do something I enjoy.

Haeji: What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt from volunteering?
Jill: I don’t know. You get to know other people’s lives and some people have had difficult times. It makes you realise how luck you are.

Haeji: What are you looking forward to doing next?
Jill: I’ve not thought more than this really. I have done volunteering on a Mondays but I think just one days is enough at the moment.

Haeji: Do you think you’ve gained any skills/learnt new things in any way? (Improved confidence, skills, etc)
Jill: Yes definitely – peoples skills surely. When I first came I was frightened even to peel potatoes in case I got it wrong! But now I’ve built my confidence. And cooking, I can do it in my kitchen but it’s not the same as cooking for 20 people! So I’ve been learning from the cook.

Haeji: Do you have any advice/comments for someone who would like to do volunteering?
Jill: Just give it a go and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Haeji: How would you sum up your volunteering experience in 3 words?
Jill: Fun, Friendship and feeling relied on or needed.

Haeji asked Daniela about Jill as a volunteer:

Haeji: How has Jill contributed to your service?
Daniela: She has been great to have as she is kind, helpful and it’s been nice for the lunch club members to have someone reliable and very friendly.

Haeji: What do you think the Jill has gained/learnt from her experience?
Daniela: Jill lost her husband shortly before starting with us. Volunteering has helped her have something to do and to occupy her mind. Coming gives her the opportunity to talk to people. She gets on very well with the cook, all the volunteers and staff, and with the lunch club members.

Haeji: How would your service manage without volunteers?
Daniela: The Older People’s club consists only of 3 paid staff (and sometimes a driver), so we would find it extremely hard to manage without volunteers.

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