When I first came across Youth Concern, it was by accident really. I used to walk past their place — tucked away under the arches in the old part of Aylesbury. I’d been working in the NHS since 1973, and after taking early retirement and then returning to work, I thought I’d do some voluntary work on my days off.
Back then, they had this enormous volunteer booklet — honestly, you could find anything in there, from sailing yachts to helping out with homelessness projects. I was drawn to young people and homelessness. The waiting list for the homelessness work was huge, but Youth Concern always seemed to need volunteers. So one day I walked down there.
When I first stepped inside, it was incredibly noisy. My first thought was, “what on earth have I walked into?” But the energy was infectious. I offered to help, even to use my training as a therapist. And the truth is, I took to it like a duck to water. The values of the place, the way they supported young people with everything from safe sex advice to job applications, training, mentoring, even just a safe place to be — it really struck a chord with me.
That was fifteen years ago, and I’m still here. Always as a volunteer, never in any other role. I think part of what drew me in was that I’d spent my life in the NHS, always part of a team, and I valued that so much. But here it felt freer. If you wanted to run an art session or rustle up a meal, you could. Someone would nip out for a curry, or bring in something random to share. There was a real sense of give-and-take. I wasn’t ready to hang up my shoes and do nothing, so this gave me focus and, more importantly, a place to belong.
At first, I told myself I’d only do it for a couple of years. But time passed and it just became part of my life. It gives me structure, even now. Something to look forward to each week. I’ll find myself planning things for it, thinking about what I can bring in or ideas to try, even when I’m not there. And the people — well, they’re brilliant. That genuine kindness, that sense that everyone matters, it’s infectious.
What do I hope to achieve? Honestly, just to make a difference. It’s tough being young these days — far tougher than when I was that age. If I can play even a small part in giving a young person support, encouragement, or a sense that someone cares, then I’ve done what I came to do.
There have been so many memorable moments. The awards the charity has won, yes, but it’s the personal ones that stay with me. Like when a young person comes back years later, now at college or with their own flat, and says, “I’m doing okay now.” Or when someone stops me in the street just to tell me where they’re at. I feel privileged to have been a tiny part of their journey.
I’ve always agreed with something Doctor Who once said: “always be kind.” That’s it really. That’s what it all comes down to.
There were challenges, of course. When I first started, the charity faced a lot of uncertainty. Funding was cut, youth services all over the place were disappearing. It was touch and go for a while, and that was hard. But we came through. And on a personal level, my years in psychiatry and mental health helped me. You learn acceptance. You learn not to judge. If someone uses language I find upsetting, I can say so calmly. And I’ve always felt supported by the staff if any issues came up.
The rewards, though, are constant. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever walked away from a session without feeling some kind of lift. Sometimes it’s something small, like cobbling together a meal from just a few tins, or sitting in the garden with the young people, picking strawberries and chatting about life. Those little moments matter as much as the big ones.
Volunteering has kept me connected too. My family and friends know all about it. Sometimes they’ve even donated things — a band kit here, some pots there. They’re impressed I’ve stuck with it for so long, but I can’t imagine my life without it now. It’s become part of who I am.
Has it changed me? Of course. I’m older and slower — I need help getting things off the bottom shelves these days — but I’ve gained so much from being around young people. They keep me curious. They’ll start talking about something and I’ll have no idea what they mean, but they’re always happy to explain. It keeps me on my toes and reminds me never to make assumptions about people.
And the best part? I feel accepted. I belong.
Do I see myself carrying on? Absolutely. I’m not ready to give it up, not when it gives me so much in return. My advice to anyone thinking about volunteering is simple: go for it. Try something out. You might just find, like I did, that it becomes part of your life — and that you get back far more than you ever give.
