Helping hand from young and old
This year’s Volunteers Week from 1st to 7th June is all about saying Thank You to the many volunteers across Uist.
Margaret Wisemen, 68, from Grimsay, volunteers across Uist and is a member of the Volunteers Centre.
“I have made scrubs and now make Bereavement Bags for the NHS Bereavement Belongings bags project. At Tagsa Gardens, I do general gardening: potting on, sowing seeds, taking cuttings, watering plants, harvesting, weeding, tidying and meeting the public,” she said.
Margaret continued: “I help out with cleaning when required at Grimsay Boat Shed. When I retired, I wanted something else to do. I love gardening, and I like meeting people. I like working in a team and being outdoors. You never stop learning about something you are interested in, and I have learned so much about growing plants.
Before I retired, I was a nurse and had always been a sewer so volunteering with the scrubs, and then the Bereavement Bags project was something I wanted to do to help the NHS and Care Homes.
There is always something to do, but I do not feel under pressure when volunteering. I feel fitter and love the company in the gardens. It is as physical as you want it to be, and time flies. We have a good laugh, and it relaxes my mind. I feel like I am making a small difference, giving a bit back. I enjoy watching things I’ve planted grow and be used by others and making scrubs and Belongings Bags. I am retired, but the insight I have gained has encouraged me to do more research and has improved my personal knowledge about growing and gardening.”
Ronan MacPhee, 18, from Benbecula, volunteers for seven different organisations across Uist. He represents the youth voice on the Uist Local Energy Plan, is a member of the Youth Climate Action Group Western Isles, in the COP26 Climate Co-design Group, volunteers at the community gardens at Tagsa Uibhist, is a befriender, helps out at the food bank as well as taking holiday clubs during the school holidays.
He said: “I volunteer for lots of different reasons, the main ones being to make a difference in our community and society with climate change. I also love to help someone out with anything, for example, just taking time out to talk to someone who may be lonely.
I currently have over 700 hours of volunteering and am working towards the 1000hrs summit award, which is also called the outstanding award. Volunteering has definitely grown and helped my confidence massively!”
Katrina Beedie, who now lives in Eriskay, has recently moved to the islands.
She said: “I came to the Western Isles with available time and was very keen to give something back, support great organisations and also use it as a way to meet people and help integrate into my new environment.
I volunteer because I enjoy feeling like I am doing something good for someone else. I also really like meeting people, and if I can do that, and help an individual/organisation, then that makes me a happy person!”
Katrina gained a job from her work as a volunteer, she explained: “ I volunteered at Tagsa before being offered employment! I think for lots of people, it can be a great way to gain skills and experience as well as build confidence and meet new people. I think it helps to remind me what really matters in life.
I wouldn’t be in the job I am in, which I love, without the Volunteer Centre. I came to the Islands not knowing anyone and was starting to feel quite lonely. Vicki was a great person to meet, and she helped identify volunteering opportunities I was not aware of. Since then, she has been in regular contact, checking in and supporting me and is a good source of information.”
Speaking with Am Pàipear, Vicki Manchester, Western Isles Volunteer Centre, explained the importance of volunteering.
“People volunteer for a variety of reasons and they vary from person to person. Common themes are to do something helpful and good both within their community and the nation in general, to learn a new skill, to meet people and make new friends, to gain experience in a working environment and possibly gain employment or further a career.
Marvelously, Kat and Ronan, who volunteered at Tagsa, both gained part-time employment, which really suits them.
Tagsa Community Gardens were successful in gaining a Highly Commended in the National Generations Working Together Awards for Inclusive Communities Section, which was highly deserved. All three volunteers volunteer with them and with other organisations such as Caraidean, Restore, Uist and Barra Foodbank, Youth Climate Action Group, Stitching and Sewing Uist.
Volunteer Centre Western Isles aims to support organisations and volunteers and to provide a brokerage service between the two. We help with policies and advice and try to solve any difficulties which may arise. I would like to shout out a big thank you to the lovely Uist people who volunteer to help our community remain a lovely place to be part of. Much of our support is from volunteering organisations and their volunteers. Thank You.”
