What made you decide to volunteer?

"Having retired I had more time and was looking for an opportunity to get involved, to have a sense of purpose and feel worthwhile whilst giving something back to the local community. I had always done various voluntary work but had come across SASP through my work and had been very impressed with the work they were doing."

How did you decide to get involved?

"As a Move More Together volunteer – matched with a participant to provide ongoing one to one support to help them to get more active. Programme is very flexible but we met once a week. It only ever took about an hour of my time, we would meet up at the participants home and go for a walk together."

What has happened as a result of your volunteering?

"I have seen the changes it has made transforming her life. She was a lady that was reluctant to leave her flat and now she is out and about all the time. Not only is she physically benefitting from the increased activity and out and about to different venues but she is reconnecting with people and making new connections."

"She has joined a social group who meet twice a month, I recently attended some training provided by St John Ambulance and she was there for the same training. She attends local residents' meetings, line dancing, she is leading a residents movement class once a week."

What difference has this made to you?

"For me – I have met a lovely lady and made a new friend. Seeing the changes in my matched participant has really fulfilled my need to give something back to the community."

What are the next steps?

"For the participant she is looking at joining the Health Walks and I have said I will go along with her initially if she would like that. We will continue to keep in contact and meet at other groups which is nice as I will not lose contact with her and will continue to be able to see how things are going for her."

Anything you have learnt/would like to share?

"The walking was only a part of this journey, it was the conversations and opportunities that opened up as a result of our sessions and time together."

"Seeing the change in her, she has found her identity again. She has had to be ready and made that effort to make changes but it has been so rewarding. She commented that someone that had only known her since Covid would not recognise the person she is now."