Helen: Kitchen Garden volunteer at Minstead Lodge

Having recently left work after 24 years of service with the NHS (and not remotely ready to ‘retire’), I was looking for an active role with a real sense of purpose and the chance to help people – and the kitchen garden at Minstead Lodge has been the perfect fit!

The walled garden is an amazing place to volunteer and being outdoors, surrounded by nature and wildlife, lifts your spirits and is so good for everyone’s wellbeing.  I can’t wait to see the garden in its full glory all year round and am learning so much. Instructors Ken and John are fonts of knowledge and readily share this with us, as well as being open to any thoughts or suggestions we may have when seeing things through ’new eyes’.  Every time I volunteer here there is something different to do and new things to learn – but most importantly, there is always friendship, laughter and a real sense of family and community.  Everyone is so open, honest, encouraging and positive, with incredible skills and talents they are willing to share with us all.

And the icing on the cake is the fantastic people we support who are at the heart of everything the Trust stands for.  It is a privilege to work with them and humbling too.  They are always so welcoming and obviously feel great pride and enjoyment out of what they achieve.  We learn from each other and, when the moment comes that you know you have become part of their work family, it is priceless.

I am so pleased to be volunteering with the Trust and they are always appreciative of the time we give, but I think we get back far more from being a part of such a special community.  I’d recommend volunteering with Minstead Trust to you wholeheartedly.

To find out more about volunteering at Minstead Trust, get in touch! Volunteers@MinsteadTrust.org.uk