When you’re next having a beverage at the Communities 1st Coffee Cart in St Albans civic centre, don’t be surprised if your drink is served with a song and a smile! There is a lot of interest in singing amongst the volunteers at the cart. This is because Emma, a recent recruit, has a deep interest in music and singing. Her love for music matches her enthusiasm for volunteering on the Coffee Cart.
Colin has been a volunteer with Communities 1st for some two and a half years. Once a week he telephones Richard*, who is in his mid-seventies and lives alone. They chat for about an hour, as part of Communities 1st Telephone Befriending Programme. Colin explained to me that “At the start, I identified with Richard what we had in common and that’s what we talk about – football, blues, and rock music, particularly from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. We both know what we’re talking about. Sometimes we talk about world affairs. We clicked over our shared interests.”
“I owe Communities 1st such a lot,” Gabriela explained to me over a delicious cup of coffee at the Communities Thirst coffee point in the St Albans Civic Centre where she gives her time as a volunteer. Gabiela continued, “Communities 1st has helped me learn English, taught me new skills, and given me greater confidence. Without Communities 1st I would not be where I am today.”
Brian Hudson’s Thursdays start when, at 9:30, he picks up a gentleman who lives is St Albans and gives him a lift to his mother who lives near the Galleria, in Hatfield. He then makes his way to the Communities 1st office, Ver House, in Park Street, probably arriving around 10:20. Brian spends his day working as a volunteer on the Community Car Service. He takes calls from members of the public, and existing users, who are in need of help with transport – they may need a lift to hospital, to their GP, to an eye appointment, to go shopping, or perhaps to visit their family.
Patricia*, originally from the north-east and now in her early seventies, has been using Communities 1st services for some nine years. I was looking forward to chatting with her and learning about her experience. I was richly rewarded. Patricia* is a warm, friendly woman, with a strong sense of Geordie humour. I soon realised that she is also strong-minded and will speak her mind!
“It’s fantastic what Communities 1st is doing,” Mike told me when I eventually tracked him down and he told me about his experience as a volunteer. “You provide a wide range of valuable services to support the community,” he continued. “There are many people who are vulnerable and in need of help. I am pleased to do my bit to help.”