Volunteering with the Handyperson Project is way more than just changing a light bulb, it gives vulnerable people a sense of independence, and can help them feel less isolated.
Our Handyperson service operates across Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire, where volunteers complete small and minor maintenance jobs that some older people or people with disabilities cannot do by themselves in their own homes.
Mike has been intermittently volunteering with Volunteering Matters for the past 25 years. He started in 1979 when the organisation was known as CSV (Community Service Volunteers). Currently, Mike volunteers with our Handypersons Project, but over the years, he has also volunteered and done humanitarian work in various parts of the world. We were thrilled to catch up with Mike, learn more about his vast volunteering experience, and hear about his volunteer work with Handypersons.
“At age 20, I moved from Bristol to begin my volunteering journey with CSV by assisting at a homeless shelter in London. I have continued to volunteer as an adult.
After finishing my CSV placement, I went to Malawi, Southern Africa, for a two-year VSO (Volunteer Service Overseas) placement in well development. This led me onto a degree course in water management which in turn allowed me to work for Oxfam and the Red Cross, in various emergency displacement areas world wide for 10 -12 years including Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Uganda, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Volunteering can be a great way to meet people and integrate into a new community while making a difference. So when I moved to Stirling, I volunteered with the Stirling and District Association for Mental Health, specifically in adult befriending, which I found to be a very rewarding experience. I also completed a family support volunteer training programme.
After a couple of years, I decided to explore other volunteering options. That’s when I found Volunteering Matters at the volunteer centre. I met with John, a Delivery Leader from Volunteering Matters who oversees the Handyperson Project in Stirling and Clackmannanshire. During the meeting, John explained the nature of the service and what it entails. I liked the sound of it and my journey with Handypersons started.
I’ve been volunteering as a handyperson for five years, mainly in the Stirling area. I love the work as it helps make a big difference for older or isolated people who need additional support. My tasks usually involve fitting smoke alarms and light bulbs, and I have cycles of two jobs per week or two per month. It’s always a pleasure to help out, especially for older people who live alone and may need that extra bit of assistance. This may be because their spouse, who used to do all the handy tasks, is no longer with them so it’s important to be sensitive.
People use our service for various reasons. Recently, I assisted a woman who has mobility issues and uses an electric wheelchair. My task was fixing a towel rail and other things in her bathroom to make it safe. During our conversation, she mentioned that her daughter is a qualified plumber. So, I asked her why she used our service when her daughter could have done it. Her response really struck a chord with me. She was clear “The service helps me to spend quality time with my family.” She explained that our service helps her to welcome her family without feeling guilty or obligated to ask them for help. She told me that if she were to ask her family to start fixing things, the whole relationship dynamic would change. Instead of visiting her, they would feel that they have to do things for her. By using our service, she feels self-sufficient and independent to get things done that she cannot do for herself. Volunteering with the Handyperson Project is way more than just changing a light bulb, it gives vulnerable people a sense of independence, and can help them feel less isolated.
“The service helps me to spend quality time with my family.”
I’ve met many phenomenal people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and getting to know them has been a pleasure. For example, I recently repaired a doorbell for an older woman with mobility issues. During our chat, she told me she had two children, one married to a person from Norway and the other to someone from Denmark. I was blown away when she mentioned that she had learned to speak Norwegian and Danish so that she could easily chat with her grandchildren. Her determination to learn two new languages impressed me. It’s a great reminder that we should never judge people.
I come away from my volunteering work feeling appreciated. Volunteering has become a way of life for me, and I can’t recommend it enough!
I love volunteering with the Handyperson Project because it allows me to do practical tasks that suit my skill set whilst helping people in all sorts of ways. As a newcomer to Scotland, volunteering has provided me with the opportunity to meet people, gain insight into the community, and integrate into the local area. I come away from my volunteering work feeling appreciated. Volunteering has become a way of life for me, and I can’t recommend it enough!”
We are immensely grateful to Mike for his years of volunteering.
Thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Handyperson Project can continue to make a positive impact on the community of Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
