Nothing gives Julia Shepherd greater pleasure than volunteering in her community.
As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week – a national initiative designed to say thank you for the contribution of millions of volunteers across the UK – Julia is out in her community making a difference.
Last week she helped produce 55 cream teas for a community event in Tavistock, while LiveWest staff talked to residents.
LiveWest Community Connector Alison Knight said: “It was fantastic that Julia managed the Cream Teas at this event. She was a welcoming friendly face for participants, allowing us to focus on community surveys with customers.”
Having started as a Resident Involvement volunteer, Julia is a member of our recently-launched InFocus group.
The group has been set up to help shape our future direction as we give our residents a voice when it comes to developing our services.
Alongside her many volunteering assignments, Julia is a member of her local resident association at Briar Tor.
Here she helps cook meals for 25 sheltered residents every month and adds some extra touches such as vases of flowers on the tables, and offering a glass of wine and a choice of menu to give the dining hall a restaurant feel.
It is events like these that helps bring people together and reduces isolation at the scheme.
When asked why she devotes so much time to volunteering, Julia said: “I enjoy volunteering and helping at events. It gets me out of the house and helps me manage my PTSD. I particularly like meeting new people.”