June 2, 2025
Volunteers’ Week 2025
Volunteers’ Week 2025 is a week-long celebration that highlights all of the important and amazing work our volunteers get involved with.
When PSS was founded back in 1919, much of our work was done by volunteers – incredibly talented people who came forward to help others in need. It’s thanks to them – their selflessness and their ability to treat others with dignity – that we owe our success. We’d be nowhere without them. They built the foundations for PSS that have lasted over 100 years – and we’re proud to still have a base of brilliant volunteers today.
We’ve got volunteers all over the country and in nearly all of our services. Each role fits into one of our four categories:
- Everyday Heroes volunteers
- Quality Champion volunteers
- Change maker volunteers
- Trustees
Here’s what our PSS people said about some of our volunteers:
Sam Varney – Expert by experience, Shared Lives carer recruitment
Sam is always willing to meet new carers and has some brilliant and challenging questions and scenarios for them – which really get them thinking! He openly talks about his experiences in Shared Lives and the positive impact his carer, Tori, has had on him – inspiring potential new carers.
Matty – Property services volunteer
Matty is always pleasant, helpful and has a wonderful way of working. He’s helped move things around the office, tidies up, keeps an eye on the plants and waters them. It’s all the little things that make a difference. He just gets on with it – no fuss – and makes the office a nicer place to work.
Kevin Nestor – Front of house volunteer
I see Kevin on his travels around the building as part of his front of house role. He’s such a great ambassador for PSS. Kevin shares his story and talks about how PSS has helped him – but I think he underestimates how much he has given back in return. He’s always pleasant, takes his role seriously and gets involved in team meetings, encouraging others. He was especially kind at our last meeting – even shared his bingo card with me, even though I was rubbish!
PSS trustees
The trustees at PSS are really approachable and have a deep passion for supporting us to be the best we can be. They really enjoy getting to know us and the people we support and they’re a pleasure to be around!
Richard Adamson and Peter Ryan – Peer supporters, ‘Strumbrellas’ ukulele group
Richard and Pete work brilliantly together, co-ordinating both in-person and online sessions all year. Over time, the group has performed at many PSS events, and they always make sure the group is prepared and enthusiastic. At the recent Dutch Barn Picnic, they ran a ukulele workshop and shared their passion with the Making Days group and other attendees. They hope it’ll inspire more people to pick up and enjoy this joyful little instrument.
Rob Tulip – Beekeeper and sound assistant for Dutch Farm events
Rob is a quiet guy who just gets on with whatever needs doing. He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but his contributions are deeply appreciated.
Lisa Maynard-Atem – Board apprentice
Lisa has brought a fresh perspective to the board. She’s helped us celebrate our successes on social media and is always upbeat – a real joy to be around!
Rob Tulip – Beekeeper
Rob stepped in when we were short of bee guardians. He learned quickly and hands-on, and is now a vital part of our small team of three. Rob is 100% reliable, incredibly knowledgeable, a great beekeeper – and a good friend. His tech talents are also invaluable. We’re so lucky to have him in the PSS family.
Tony Carroll, Matty Mellor, John Satchell – Property services
They bring smiles to everyone’s faces, every single time.
Ken Newton – Peer-led Everyday Mindfulness
Ken is dedicated, reliable and passionate about helping people. He’s always open to learning and new ideas.
Volunteer Gardeners
Dedicated, creative, reliable and consistent. Most recently, they put in a huge effort for our Afternoon Tea event on the 12th – from sourcing bone China tea sets, planting new flower beds, baking cakes and scones, and more. A big thank you to our fantastic team!
Mitchell Grant – Expert by experience, Shared Lives
Mitchell is outgoing, friendly, motivated and empathetic. He’s always eager to complete expert meetings with new carers and asks insightful questions tailored to each person. He shares his experience of moving into a carer’s home, giving valuable insight into what it’s like to move into a carer’s home. He regularly volunteers to support awareness-raising for Shared Lives and contributes to the service however he can by sharing good news stories.
He’s really friendly and makes anyone he speaks to feel comfortable and confident. We’re currently in talks with a news agency about featuring PSS Shared Lives on TV, and Mitchell has volunteered to represent us. While the team’s a bit nervous about being on screen, Mitchell has stepped up with confidence and enthusiasm. We can’t thank him enough and he is the perfect example of PSS values and what Shared Lives is about.
Tony and Matty – Property services
Both are always helpful and keep ERH spotless. You’ll often see them taking out the bins, sorting the recycling or cleaning. They’re always up for a chat, and never say no to a biscuit or cake from Turnaround!
Marie – Gardener
Marie is full of gardening knowledge and always ready with a helpful tip. She makes time for everyone at the farm, and nothing is ever too much trouble.
She’s a thoughtful and valued team member at Dutch Farm – helping with everything from weeding to cookery. She never forgets a birthday and makes each one special. On her own birthday, she led a cookery session and brought in loads of fruit and pavlova nests (with her own money) for everyone to decorate. Marie is a gem – we’re so grateful for everything she does. Thank you, Marie!
Mark – Gardener
Mark is always willing to help, even coming in on his day off to bring soil for the beds. He’s fantastic with the people we support and fits in perfectly with the team.
Corinne Jones, Elsa McShane and Michelle Donovan – Reader leaders, peer support groupwork facilitators
Corrine, Elsa and Michelle recently trained as volunteer Reader Leaders with The Reader Organisation – and haven’t looked back! Since then, they’ve run brilliant Shared Reading Sessions across our Wellbeing Centres. We’ve had wonderful feedback from participants about how inclusive, creative, and supportive the sessions are. They’re a real highlight of the week for attendees. People leave feeling good – and that’s all down to these three inspiring women. We’re lucky to have them.
Strumbrellas – Peer supporters
They’ve welcomed lots of new members this year and are always up for performing – including at the Dutch Farm Afternoon Tea. Their presence adds something special to every event and they’re wonderfully inclusive.
Sheila Braid – Wellbeing Centre volunteer
Sheila is marvellous! She’s helped with Journey Through Art – bringing crafts, teaching beeswax candle-making – and even ran her own fundraiser, crocheting Chocolate Cosies and raising £100 for the Dutch Barn.
Sheila is kind, generous, creative and inclusive – and so deserving of recognition.
Read more here
Mark Feenan, Stevie Graham and Rob Tulip – Beekeepers
Huge shout out to our amazing bee guardians.
This year brought the sad news that we’d lost our original colony over winter. In April, we were offered a new colony from a beekeeper who could no longer care for them due to illness. Mark, Stevie and Rob leapt into action, carefully relocating the bees to Dutch Farm. The bees are now thriving, and our beekeepers are inspecting the hives weekly with care and commitment. Well done, team!
Stevie Graham – Peer support lead (Men’s Group – Dutch Barn, Wellbeing Centres)
Stevie is incredibly reliable and takes his role as volunteer peer supporter seriously. If he says he’ll do something, he will – rain or shine. He doesn’t like letting people down. He’s friendly and approachable, and makes new group members feel welcome and goes out of his way to research discussion topics that keep the group lively and engaged.
He’s also part of the Strumbrellas ukulele group and the Sing, Sing choir. Stevie recently led the Men’s Group during a mental health workshop run by an external agency. Everyone at the Wellbeing Centres values Stevie as a fantastic team member.
Abbigail Stretton – Expert by experience
Abbigail always brings such enthusiasm (and usually her dogs if on Teams) to each expert visit. She shares her experiences and her background, and really helps prospective carers to hear how much of an impact they can have. Abbigail isn’t afraid of having difficult conversations and has her own set of values that she brings to the role.
PSS trustees
Shout-out to all our amazing trustees! We’re so lucky to have this talented bunch working alongside our leadership team to help keep everything running smoothly and above board (literally!) at PSS.
They might sit on our Board, but they’re always happy to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in when visiting our services. They’re a genuine part of our PSS culture – bringing not just oversight and expertise, but warmth, curiosity and a shared commitment to the people we support.
We couldn’t do it without them – thank you for everything you do!