Volunteer Stories

Evelyn & Alana

“I’ve been spoiled my whole life and it does surprise me – I’m a cheeky bugger!” says Evelyn with a full beam, eyes lit up.

She is extremely full of beans. There aren’t many 89-year-olds who happily stand up and give a full self-defence demonstration in their sitting room – in short, punch the attacker on the nose not the chin, as you’ll hurt your hand less. Despite memory troubles, nothing pleases Evelyn more than sharing her stories and philosophy on life, accompanied by a Bakewell tart and, in the right moment, a spot of Baileys.

Evelyn has been a client of Dorcas for nine years. An Islington resident her entire life, she is exactly the kind of client that demonstrate the immense value FCV Dorcas brings to the local community. Evelyn’s son Jamie came across the charity when he was looking for more activities for his mother to join in with.

“I found Dorcas because mum was lonely,” says Jamie. “I live in Newmarket and can only come once a week and things organised by other charities are at the other end of the borough. Dorcas has been an incredible support.”

In almost a decade of conversations, outings and events, Evelyn has found Dorcas’s work to be invaluable. In her words, she has really “gelled” with her current volunteer Alana Walsh, and Jamie agrees. “Alana has been wonderful at finding things to do or look at that mum would find interesting,” he says. “She took her down to White Cross Street where the family used to have stalls, which isn’t something mum could do on her own.”

The relationship has proved just as rewarding for Alana. “I love visiting Evelyn each week,” she says. “She is so happy and positive and doesn’t let anything bother her. It’s a really nice way to end a working day – it puts everything into perspective.”

No two visits with Evelyn are ever the same. FCV Dorcas volunteers are able to plan outings with their clients or and encouraged to discover new mutual interests, and Evelyn is full of a capacity to enjoy herself. Having spent her life working in local factories and offices, bringing up her two boys in a nearby flat, being given oranges at the family stalls on White Cross Street and walking the lengths of Regent’s Canal, she has a lot of memories to share.

“Evelyn has so many stories about life in London and how it’s changed; I learn something new each week,” explains Alana. “On a normal visit we usually have lots of hugs and we make a cup of tea, and catch-up on what she’s being doing and who has been visiting her. If it’s good weather, we sit on the balcony and watch all the people walk past along the canal. I show her photos of my family or things I’ve done in the last week.

“I really enjoy playing her songs from my phone – she often talks about how she sang the shrimp boat song when she worked in the factory and I found it on YouTube and played it for her. To see her face light up and hear her sing all the words was such a lovely thing. She is just a really happy person and I genuinely feel like my visits make a difference to her.”

The work of Alana and FCV Dorcas means that Evelyn can still live her life to the full. Islington is certainly a better place for such vibrant residents as Evelyn, who has lived her whole life under the philosophy that “what goes around comes around”. FCV Dorcas is proud to share the benefits of the cheerful outlook that Evelyn maintains, no matter what.

“I’ve been spoiled my whole life and it hasn’t stopped yet!”

Jo-Anne & Tommy

What volunteering do you do?
I volunteer as a Befriender, which involves befriending an elderly person in the community and visiting them every week. I visit Tommy every week in his care home- we go for walks to the local park when it is sunny, have a pint in the pub or simply listen to his old records.

What were your first impressions?
You are initially matched with three elderly people and you pick the person you feel you would get on with best. At first I was anxious about meeting Tommy. I had no idea what to expect. I was informed that he had early Alzheimer’s disease, and could often forget who the people around him were, so I was worried about how I would deal with that.

How do you feel about it now?
Tommy has become very special to me and I look forward to visiting him every week. At first you might feel a bit lost with what to do and what to chat about but you just need to get them talking about their life and experiences. We have a lot to learn from elderly people!

What is the best thing about befriending?
Tommy tells me how lonely it is in the home and if I don’t visit he doesn’t really get to go outside. So after every visit I feel like I’m making a difference. Last week we put on a few of his old records and he had a little dance around his room- it’s moments like this that makes it all worthwhile.

What is the most challenging thing?
The most challenging aspect for me is learning how to deal with an elderly person who has Alzheimer’s disease. Tommy often forgets that I’m coming and it’s a surprise for him and he can never remember my name. You have to be very patient and I have definitely learnt a lot.

How has it changed you?
I’ve become more aware of how lonely elderly people can get. Sometimes they might not see anyone else for days and can’t get outside. That’s why schemes like FCV Dorcas Befriending Project are important.

Would you recommend the project?
One hundred percent! It is a wonderful project. I’ve already persuaded some of my friends to get involved. They really make an effort to match you up with someone you’ll get on with and conduct training days so you feel well equipped. It’s only a couple of hours per week and you can really impact someone else’s life and make a new friend in the process.

Ethel & Amy

Amy has been involved with the Dorcas Befriending Project since she moved to London from New York in 2008. After discovering the DBP at the volunteer fair at University College London where she earned her Masters in Art History, Amy was matched with 101 year old Ethel, with whom she shares a mutual love of knitting, crosswords and strong coffee. She is currently the acting Secretary of the DBP Executive Committee.

Patrick & Alfie

Patrick joined the Dorcas Project in June 2011 and was soon paired up with Alfie, an elderly gentleman in his eighties who resides in a nursing home in Islington. Alfie suffered a stroke a few years ago, and has become less mobile over time. Patrick visits Alfie on a weekly basis after work, and they spend most of the time catching up with each other on the week’s events. This may involve a conversation over family or football. Given that Alfie has a sweet tooth, biscuits usually make their way into the conversation.