The South Hackney resident, 80 this week, has volunteered at Jewish Care’s Brenner Community Centre in Stamford Hill for 13 years. Before retirement, she was PA to the principal of Hackney Community College
Why Jewish Care?
My late sister-in-law Bea Hart was the centre director, and as soon as I stopped working she earmarked me to help. My husband Frank also worked at the centre as a carer/driver and is now a volunteer.
What does your volunteering involve?
I come in three or four days a week and each day is different. As a volunteer co-ordinator, my priority is pastoral care for volunteers — I make sure they are happy with their roles. These range from helping in the dining room or on reception to working in the coffee shop or grocery shop. Recruitment is important as we are always looking for new volunteers. I interview people and allocate them jobs. This involves a lot of paperwork too.
What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer?
I love every minute I’m here and enjoy chatting to the members. When I ask them how they are feeling or if they had a nice weekend, most of them say: ‘If it wasn’t for my legs, I’d be OK!’