An interview with a volunteer - Joan

Joan moved to Leeds just over two years ago, after living in South Yorkshire for most of her life. She was drawn to volunteering after a career in teaching as it gave her the opportunity to teach others some of her skills – and pick up some new skills, too. Specialising in crocheting and knitting, volunteering at OWLS has given Joan the opportunity to teach again, having taught many members to crochet and knit!

“Once people believe that they can do things, that’s when they start being able to do things.”

Joan says that there’s a rewarding feeling once you’ve taught someone a skill that they can then go away and work on, “because once people believe that they can do things, that’s when they start being able to do things”. She particularly likes working alongside those who perhaps wouldn’t be able to craft on their own, such as members with Alzheimer's or MS. This makes her feel very useful and she loves seeing the proud smiles on members’ faces when she has helped them produce something they could not have produced on their own.

Joan also loves the fact that OWLS gives her the opportunity to try new things, having picked up some sewing techniques from her friend Janet, who she says is “wonderfully skilled”. Whilst she claims she will never be a talented sewer (we believe in you, Joan!) it’s nice to be able to attempt something different. She also loves the fact that she can craft in such a peaceful and relaxed environment – it certainly makes a difference to the hectic classrooms that she’s used to. “Everyone here is very pleasant and reasonable – it’s such a change from children who want to kill you and set fire to the building!”

“It’s nice to find new things, new skills, and new people to get involved with.”

To conclude our interview, we asked Joan what advice she would give to others who were considering volunteering, and she said:

“Do it. Jump in.

If you think you can’t do it, do it.

If you think you can do it, do it.

If you think you might not be able to do it, do it.

If you think you are fully able to do it, do it.

Whatever it is, just do it! A lot of the people who I’ve met who volunteer here didn’t feel very confident in the first place and yet they’ve enjoyed it so much and it’s done a lot for them. it’s nice to find new things, new skills, and new people to get involved with.”

Time to craft!