I’ve only been doing this since about April or May. Before that, I was volunteering with the Red Cross, working on their wheelchair service. We’d provide wheelchairs to people who needed them, and I really enjoyed it. But that all stopped. The NHS contractor that was supposed to be providing wheelchairs was losing so much money that the Red Cross had to pull the plug on the whole service. From what I gather, they still deliver wheelchairs, but it’s done in a stripped-back, remote way now — not really worth it, in my opinion. It doesn’t have the same human touch. I missed it when it went. I missed doing something useful.
That’s what made me look around for something new. By complete chance, I stumbled across Community Impact Bucks’ website. To be honest, I didn’t even know Chiltern Rangers existed before that. I’d never heard of them. But there it was — an advert for a volunteer driver. I thought, “Well, I can drive a van. Why not?” So I applied.
Of course, it wasn’t as simple as just hopping in and turning the key. They put me through all the proper training and tests to drive a minibus. Theory, practical — the lot. And I’ll be honest, I only just scraped through, but I passed, and that’s what matters.
I came in thinking I’d just be the driver. You know, they’d tell me, “Right, park the van, sit tight while the others do the conservation work, then take them home again.” But within three or four weeks, I realised it’s not like that at all. It’s much more hands-on. Yes, I drive, but I also join in. I’ll pick up a pair of shears, trim hedges, carry tools, whatever needs doing. Some of the other drivers just sit in the van all morning, but I can’t see the point in that. If you’re here, you might as well muck in.
So what do I get out of it? Well, firstly, I made a commitment, and I’m the sort of person who sticks to things once I’ve said I’ll do them. But beyond that, I get the satisfaction of helping people. That matters to me. What I didn’t realise at first was just how much support and structure volunteering here gives, not just to the community they’re working in, but to the volunteers themselves. There’s a real sense of belonging.
The set-up here has been going for ten years or so, and it works. But like most organisations, they’re struggling to find enough volunteers. That’s the big challenge. I come from a marketing background, so I notice these things. Smaller charities and community groups often have brilliant people working for them, but they’re completely stretched. The website never quite captures what they really do. Social media changes every five minutes, and unless you’ve got someone dedicated to it, it’s hard to keep up. Diana, who runs so much of this, does a fantastic job, but she’s doing the work of about ten people on her own. They need central support — something to help smaller charities with things like websites, communications, marketing. Without that, it’s an uphill struggle.
What I like here is that there’s structure. It’s organised, and that makes a difference. For people like me, retired and looking to stay involved, it’s a good way in. I didn’t want to just sit around at home. I’m in my seventies, but I don’t want to spend all my time with groups of old people talking about ailments. I’d rather be out in the community, around a real mix of people. And that’s exactly what you get here — people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, some more in need than others, but everyone mucking in together.
Outside of this, I also do some business mentoring, which I really enjoy. I’ve spent my life in business, so now I help young people get their ventures off the ground, just by being a sounding board. I’d like to do more of that, but again, the challenge is knowing the pathways — how to connect, where to offer, how to fit it into something structured. It’s the same problem: people don’t always know what they need, or how to ask for it.
Looking ahead, Chiltern Rangers are in the middle of a big change. Their current base is falling apart. The council wants the land back to build flats, and the building they’re in has been condemned in parts. They’ve been given another site, but it’s not ideal, and the work needed to make it usable is going to be huge. I’ve been involved in projects like that before — corralling the money, project managing, seeing it through to completion. It’s massive. I’d be happy to help if they wanted me to, but it’s the sort of thing they’d need to ask. I don’t want to push myself in. They’ve got directors, a board, people making those decisions. They might feel they can handle it on their own.
So, will I keep volunteering? Absolutely. It keeps me connected, gives me purpose, and gets me out of the house. I enjoy the social engagement. I like being in society, mixing with people I wouldn’t otherwise meet. And honestly, it beats the alternative — spending your days tucked away, going stale. Here, you get fresh air, good company, and the feeling that you’re making a difference.
If someone asked me about volunteering, I’d tell them to go for it. Don’t overthink it — just pick something you’ve got a bit of interest in and give it a try. Once you’ve done one thing, it often leads to another, and before long you’re in the volunteering world properly. That’s how it happened for me. I started with the Red Cross, and now I’m here with Chiltern Rangers. Where it’ll lead next — who knows?
