Eunice Pugh’s Volunteer Story

After graduating with a degree in French and European studies I spent 38 years in IT before retiring to Hastings in 2015. I have been with my partner since we met at university in 1975. We have three children, one lives in Australia and two in London.

 During the first lockdown we saw a request for volunteers to join HEART to help folk who had been adversely affected.

 I have volunteered for most of my adult life. Once retired, it meant I had time to do even more. A selfish reason is I get to meet some lovely people, I have made some great friends down here through volunteering.

 Also we do live in a time when lots of people and organisations are in need of help and being able to help is really rewarding. I know the "giving back to the community" phrase is a bit of a cliche but for me it is true.

 When I volunteer for HEART I do a number of things, I dog walk (but my other half and I get much more out of it so it almost doesn't count.)

 I give folk lifts to hospital and GP appointments as well as vaccine centres.

 I am a buddy to a lady I met when I took her for her jab. We go out once a week now for a drive and a cuppa. I also help her with some aspects of life she finds difficult. For this I work closely with her Social Worker.

 I spend one afternoon a week helping at the Discharge Lounge at the Conquest. The wait there for patients waiting for transport home can be quite boring, so we offer a cuppa and someone to chat with.

 I enjoy all the volunteering,  but giving NHS staff lifts to and from the hospital when public transport was reduced was great. Like everyone else I feel such a huge debt of gratitude to all key workers and it was a privilege to help in a small way.

 The things I have gained from volunteering for HEART are friends, a sense of community, a better understanding of the far too many needs that folk have and struggle with, plus something to keep me from overdosing on daytime TV programmes!

 Last week in the discharge lounge I chatted to someone who had had a fascinating life. They told me a really funny, true story but I don't think I can repeat it here! Generally volunteering is fun and connections are many with volunteers and HEART users.

  What advice would you give to someone considering getting involved with volunteering for HEART?

 Go for it. Give as much time as you feel able and you will meet some lovely people, learn a lot and feel great about what you are doing.