Christine’s Volunteer Story

It has been four years since I joined Our Special Friends as a volunteer, having returned to the Bury St Edmunds area after 12 years living in Yorkshire. I was beginning to get bored and wanted something worthwhile, and rewarding, to fill my days. My close friend Jan, who was already a volunteer with the charity, introduced me to Bin, CEO and Founder of Our Special Friends. I was interviewed in her kitchen as back then the charity was based in her house.

I started by walking two dogs in my village for owners that were no longer able to walk them daily due to various physical reasons. I was also helping in the office once a week doing administration tasks and updating my computer skills. The team is always in need of volunteers to help with tasks such as answering the phone, taking notes at meetings, undertaking some simple research work, and of course, a couple of members of staff will have brought their dogs into work so you can enjoy their company.

I began to visit people in their own homes with one of our experienced Assessors and before I knew it, I was conducting my own assessment for new referrals, needing Our Special Friend’s support.

My working background was with Mencap and Suffolk and Yorkshire Social Services, so I had plenty of experience supporting people from all walks of life. Our Special Friends gave me the opportunity to continue to help people who have a real need of animal companionship. This could be people who have previously owned their own dogs but are no longer able to meet all of their needs. We can help keep them together, can provide a regular volunteer to help walk their dog or help with pet care. For those who can’t have their own animal anymore, Our Special Friends match a volunteer, with their own dog (or cat!) to provide them with the company and animal companionship which they miss so much.

Volunteering for Our Special Friends has made me realise what an amazing charity it has become over the years. It offers great support, and training courses, to all volunteers. For instance, an insight into dementia, how to walk a dog, and the problems that might arise.

I continue to greatly enjoy being an Assessor volunteer. This entails, meeting the client and their dog (if they own one) or finding out what sort of dog they connect with and trying to match them with a suitable visiting dog. The information I gain from them, their families and/or carers allows our Volunteer Support Manager and Service Delivery team to find a suitable volunteer/dog. Once a volunteer is identified, I will go along again to introduce the client to the volunteer and the dog. Since I started four years ago I am now a Lead Volunteer which includes completing assessments and match meetings, but I also will continue to support the volunteer and client relationship when needed and undertake regular reviews.

Do you know what makes me so happy? After I have met a client, who so desperately requires animal companionship, and I walk into their sitting room with a dog. Their eyes light up at the sight of the animal and you can see the amount of pleasure, and happiness, having animal contact brings them. I come away from that first meeting and I am filled with such happiness at seeing the amount of joy we can help to provide to one individual. I feel I have been so fortunate to become a volunteer for such a great charity, Our Special Friends.