By John Ellis FIAP Cmpn, FRSA, MBCS

Volunteering

During the Covid pandemic, my wife and I found ourselves stepping up to help different groups of people in our community. Whether it was doing their shopping or ensuring they could attend doctor appointments, we took great care to follow the rules of the time and avoid unnecessary contact. It felt genuinely good to help others during such a challenging time.

Since then, we’ve continued to support our local community, particularly focusing on older people who are often confined to their homes, sometimes living alone. My wife works for Age UK, and as I approached retirement (for the second time), I began searching for projects to keep me busy. The truth is, I was keen to avoid the decorating tasks piling up on the to-do list!

While discussing this with an old friend, David Morgan (a former President of the IAP), he shared that he found himself in a similar situation after retiring. He started helping older people with their computing needs through a local community centre. Tasks as simple as teaching someone how to send an email or bank safely online turned out to be incredibly valuable.

This struck a chord with me. As we age, we often find ourselves with more time and a growing desire to give back, whether that’s coaching a local football team, running a scout or guide group, or contributing to community projects. Being in the IT industry, I’ve accumulated skills that extend beyond coding or system-building. While I’m not wealthy, I’m fortunate enough to have resources—both time and tools—that I can share.

Over the years, I’ve found small ways to contribute. One local charity needed working IT equipment, so I donated a few serviceable devices, including an iPad, some laptops, and a mobile phone. Another charity was happy to take non-functional equipment, as they could sell the parts for scrap. This proved useful for clearing out old gear I’d otherwise have taken to the tip.

Most recently, as I wrapped up a long-standing work contract, I reached out to Worthing Soup Kitchen (WSK) to see if they needed help. After some discussions, I started designing posters for them and will soon create their annual review newsletter. I also began assisting volunteers with their Food Hygiene Course by helping them navigate computers—many had only ever used phones or tablets, making a keyboard and mouse feel like alien tools!

This has now grown into a regular commitment. Once a week, I visit the WSK Hub to help people with PC-related problems.

What do I get out of it?

The rewards of helping others go far beyond material benefits. Here’s what I’ve gained:

– A Sense of Purpose: It feels good to know that my skills are still needed and valued.

– A Feeling of Worth: Many people lose this when they retire, but volunteering has helped me maintain it.

– The Joy of Giving: I genuinely love helping others, and this fits perfectly with that passion.

– Learning New Skills: I’ve helped people d the Food Hygiene Course so many times now, I could probably pass it with my eyes closed!

– Improved Well-being: It’s said that helping others can improve mental health and even reduce blood pressure. While the jury’s still out, I certainly feel good doing it.

– New Connections: I’ve met people from all walks of life, many from far more challenging backgrounds than mine.

– A Sense of Impact: Even if I help just one person have a better day, I feel I’ve made a difference.

As I get to know the charity and its operations better, I’m sure I’ll discover even more ways to contribute.

About Worthing Soup Kitchen

SHOUT WSK stands for Street Homeless Outreach Worthing Soup Kitchen. They are a registered charity that provides engagement and emergency food for the homeless and vulnerable community in Worthing, West Sussex. Their aim is to work towards making homelessness in Worthing a thing of the past.

WSK provide a hot food service to those in need every Sunday morning from St.Clare’s Day Centre. They also deliver food and items to those unable to get to the Day Centre (outreach) alongside food parcels to people living in Worthing and surrounding areas.

Through their work with local businesses and the community, WSK receive donations of food, essential items, furniture and monetary contributions which means they can pay it forward and help those in need.

To find out more about WSK go to www.worthingsoupkitchen.co.uk.

Do you Volunteer?

Do you have any stories to share about volunteering or helping others? We can all give back, no matter our skills or backgrounds.