Volunteer Case study- Angela’s Story
We are pleased to launch our first case study of volunteers week, by focusing on the great and selfless work of an individual who volunteers to support other people in her community. At Tempo, we believe in helping people improve and change their lives, and we and thrilled to support Angela on her volunteer journey.
Here at Tempo, we are all about valuing volunteering, so to mark Volunteers’ Week this year, we thought we would share the experience of one of our wonderful volunteers. Angela, 52, from Erith in London, has been earning Tempo Time Credits for volunteering with one of our partners, Crossroads Care South East London. Angela used to work in a primary school up until two years ago when ill health forced her to retire. She then started to volunteer at Crossroads Care to keep herself occupied and make a difference in her community.
During this time volunteering, Angela has been a befriender for four elderly clients with Crossroads Care. It involves meeting them in their homes, spending time talking to them and doing any activity they want to do such as taking people on days out simply having a chat and a catch-up. During the pandemic lockdowns, while visitors weren’t allowed and none of us could enjoy getting out and about, Angela decided she wouldn’t let this stop her from supporting her clients and would speak to them over the phone regularly to keep up regular contact at a time when it was needed most. As a result of her fantastic work as a befriender, Angela was offered Tempo Time Credits. “I thought it was a good idea, she says. “They’re giving you something back. Not that you volunteer for that reason, but it was nice to have.”
Since receiving Tempo Time Credits, Angela has used them for courses with one of our many recognition partners, Learning & Enterprise College Bexley. With a variety of courses to choose from she has completed a clothes making course. Since attending the College, Angela has enjoyed brushing up on some old hobbies like sewing, while learning new skills like pottery, as well as sharing her Tempo Time Credits with her daughter who has been attending Spanish classes at the college.
“Without Tempo Time Credits, I probably wouldn’t have gone back to college, because I couldn’t have afforded it” Angela says. “They helped me learn something new. When more things open up [after the pandemic], I’d like to do more. I’ve seen some theatres and ice skating that I’m interested in. Tempo Time Credits helps you do new things. When you look at the list of Tempo Time Credit offers, it’s not stuff I’d generally do, so it’s nice to try new things.”
Angela’s advice to other Tempo Time Credit volunteers is to use them actively. “It opens up things that you wouldn’t be able to do normally. It’s nice to get something back for volunteering.”
Learn more about how you can use your Tempo Time Credits with Learning & Enterprise College Bexley here.
If you’d like to find out more about the work of Tempo and how Tempo Time Credits work, have a browse of our website. Or if you’d like to share your volunteer story or learn more about working with us please contact us here.
