I think I started volunteering about fifteen or sixteen years ago. At the time my son was at the primary school just behind the museum, and he won a competition here. We came along to collect his prize and I remember thinking, “Oh wow, I didn’t even know this place was here.” Both my children were at school, I had a bit more time on my hands, and that’s how it began — I started volunteering at the museum.
It was my first proper volunteering role. I didn’t have loads of time back then, but I had enough while the kids were at school, and this felt like the right place. Since then, I’ve become involved in other things as well. I was part of the Amersham Action Group and chaired it for four years. The group tries to improve the town in all sorts of ways, but the biggest thing we do is put on the Amersham Christmas Festival each year, which has grown bigger and bigger. We’ve also done things like community litter picks, fundraising, and even buying an old red telephone box to restore as a tourist point up on Amersham Hill. On top of that, I’m also an Amersham Town Councillor. It’s not a paid role, but I’ve been doing it for four years and have just been re-elected.
What’s nice is how all three things — the museum, the action group, and the council — overlap. They connect with each other. For example, the museum now takes part in the Christmas Festival. The mobile museum is even used as Santa’s Grotto. It’s all tied together, and that’s been a really positive thing for me and, I hope, for the town.
As for motivation, it started quite simply: I had some time, I was interested in local history, and the people here at the museum made me feel welcome. Emily, who was the curator then, was brilliant, and Bryony who followed was just as good. They both had a knack for making volunteers feel part of things. Over time I got involved in more, like setting up a reminiscence group for older people, which I still run. That’s grown into a lot of outreach work in care homes and cafés. So what began as just helping out in the museum has evolved into something much bigger and much more varied.
I think you’ve got to get something from volunteering, otherwise you won’t stick at it. For me, I get as much out as I put in — sometimes more. I enjoy meeting people, feeling I’ve achieved something at the end of the day, even if it’s just a small thing. And if one volunteering role ever stopped giving me that, I’d find another.
Part of the reason I became a councillor was because I wanted to change things. I didn’t like the status quo. I’m very community-orientated and it bothers me when people don’t seem to care about where they live. It doesn’t have to be something huge — even helping at a band concert or joining a litter pick makes a difference. I wish more people would see that.
There have been challenges, of course. Funding applications can be a nightmare. Councils can put so many hoops in the way that it’s almost off-putting. At one stage Buckinghamshire Council wanted to bring in rules that would have made community events almost impossible to run — DBS checks for everyone, MOTs for bands, endless forms. I told them straight: if you do this, you’ll kill off community life. Sometimes the bureaucracy makes you wonder why you bother, but then something rewarding happens and it makes it worthwhile again.
The best bits for me are the friendships. Through the museum, the council, and the action group, I’ve made so many connections. The reminiscence group is a great example — it’s not just a project anymore, it’s a circle of friends. During COVID we even kept it going over Zoom, which was chaotic but brilliant. Most of those people lived alone, and keeping them connected was something I’m very proud of.
Volunteering has changed me too. It’s built my confidence, encouraged me to share ideas and push them forward. I’ve learnt patience, organisational skills, even a bit of public speaking — though I’ll admit I’m still more comfortable one-to-one than in a big room. And I’ve had to learn to work with people I might not always get along with, which is a useful skill in itself.
My kids have been roped in over the years — my daughter’s been an elf at the Christmas festival, my son’s helped with poster designs and leaflets. They might not be regular volunteers yet, but they’ve certainly been involved.
Looking back, I’d say volunteering has given me friendships, skills, and a sense of belonging. I definitely see myself continuing. My roles might change as I get older, but I can’t imagine stopping completely. I’m the sort of person who always needs a project on the go.
If someone asked me whether they should try volunteering, I’d say absolutely — but take the time to find the right thing. If you pick something that doesn’t suit you, you might give up on the whole idea, and that would be a shame. For me, the museum was perfect because I love local history and I didn’t realise just how much I’d enjoy the community side of it. That’s what’s kept me here all these years.
