This Volunteers’ Week, we’re sharing the stories of people whose lives have been impacted by participating in voluntary service. Today, we’re sharing the story of Siobhan, who volunteers with the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) supporting the poor, elderly and isolated.
Siobhan was, in her own words, ‘a corporate girl enjoying her career.’ But one day, whilst she was walking around her home town of Watford, she began to take a closer look at the world around her.
‘I started to notice the poverty around me. I thought – why are there people sitting in subways asking for money? Why are there lonely people around?’ Wanting to make a difference, she volunteered to help cook at a local night shelter. The man she was cooking with turned to her and suggested she should join the SVP.
Siobhan reflects: ‘That was my moment, and I just said, “When is your next meeting?” As soon as I turned up to my first meeting I felt as if I had found my niche in life. I had a real calling to St Vincent de Paul.’
The SVP supports the most vulnerable in local communities, including those facing economic hardship, the elderly, the isolated and marginalised, from all faiths and backgrounds. Some people that the SVP support will just need a ‘nudge’ to help them onto the next step in life, says Siobhan, whereas ‘some will need the support to help them climb a whole flight of stairs.’
Siobhan has found volunteering an immensely rewarding and enriching experience. She observes:
I have not met anyone who does not get back more in terms of time and effort, in terms of their spiritual development, in terms of satisfaction, in terms of happiness. When you go in to see someone and they smile, no salary can match that – what price is a smile?
In contrast with the national average, SVP volunteers in the Diocese of Westminster tend to be under 60 years old.
Siobhan acknowledges that people may worry about how much time they need to commit to volunteering: ‘It is really about having the courage to say, “I would like to volunteer. I might not be able to volunteer very often, but when I can, I will.”‘
She adds:
‘There is an organisation for everyone, and as your circumstances change in life, you can adapt and go on to other opportunities. It is about using your talents for the greater good of society… I think of myself as a very unremarkable person, with the opportunity to do remarkable things, and that’s where the Holy Spirit comes in – it enables you to do that.’
Feeling inspired? Browse volunteering opportunities here.
