Hello Everybody. My name is George and I believe I am the oldest volunteer worker at the Booth Centre – oldest in age but certainly not in service, far from it, as I am only in my first year of “apprenticeship”, (April 2003).
On retiring from work I looked around for some considerable time for voluntary work in which I felt I could be both of service and have self-satisfaction. In choosing the Booth Centre I feel I have found both. I hope I am serving in some small way the needs of those who use the Centre and I am happy in the work I do and in meeting those who are associated in every area of its work. It is pleasure to work with so many friendly folk – both fellow voluntary workers and those who use the Centre for a variety of reasons.
Being involved in voluntary work now that I am retired I suppose is an extension to work I have done for very many years. For over 30 years I was secretary of my professions Benevolent Fund and this involved not only in dealing with many cases, but also in fund raising. I am an Honorary Member of the Fund’s House Committee of its residential home in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.
My other voluntary work over the years has been in church life, and in youth club work within local government, having been Chairperson of Management Committee. I have also been a School Governor of a large High School.
I help the Booth Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays and although I find the work rewarding in many ways I do have one regret – that is, not having been involved in its work much earlier. I am not now in a position to assist in the activities, other than the Drop-in Sessions.
The work of the Centre could not exist without the generosity of gifts from schools, churches and individuals and I hope this will continue to allow it to go from strength to strength as I don’t want to be made redundant for many years to come.