As part of Volunteer’s Week (Monday 2nd – Sunday 8th June) we’d like to recognise and celebrate our amazing volunteers by focusing on their stories. By giving their time and skills, they help us to support some of the most disadvantaged people in Wolverhampton.
It was back in 1972 that the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd first started helping people in Wolverhampton. We are delighted that the Brothers are still heavily involved with the charity in volunteering with both the food and support services.
We asked Brother Charles the following questions:
What do you do at the Good Shepherd?
During the week it’s a lot of driving around, picking up donations usually and sometimes dropping things off. We also help out when needed in the dining room service and any other little jobs they find for me.
Why did you decide to volunteer and how long have you been volunteering?
Well, you could say I’ve been volunteering for about 15 years at Good Shepherd. When I started here in 2010 the work was very simple. It was just the brothers and volunteers. There was no-one else, there was no distinct, there was no staff, so it was all just volunteers.
So, as we started from then and grew and grew and expanded are work became more complicated, of course, we had to take on staff and managers. It became much more organised, providing a much better service for our service users.
I carried on in my role then, volunteering in various ways and I’m still volunteering now.
What do you find the most fulfilling about volunteering here?
Most fulfilling is I suppose feeling useful, making a difference and being needed.
Why do you feel the work of the Good Shepherd is important in Wolverhampton?
Well, I think we’re fulfilling a real need for assistance with people who were experiencing homelessness and experiencing poverty in various forms. I think if we weren’t there, a lot of people would struggle.
Describe the Good Shepherd in three words?
Hospitality to all.
Read Brother Charles’s full story.
