Mieke: Volunteer for The Real Jam & Chutney Company

What makes me wake up with a smile on my face on a Thursday morning?

It’s knowing that I’m going to spend time volunteering with a lovely group of people producing jam and chutney from premier ingredients.  I joined the Minstead Trust Jam and Chutney enterprise as a volunteer over a year ago, and together with staff and the people supported by Trust, we all work as a team, utilising the best of our differing abilities to make hand-made products to be proud of.  Katie, our very able leader, makes us all feel welcome and ensures we are working in a safe environment and to current hygiene standards, while instructor Elizabeth keeps us entertained and focused on the job in hand.

Recently, we have hugely benefitted from a generous donation which has allowed us to have an old café area converted into a wonderfully modern and hygienic jam and chutney kitchen. Our colleagues affectionately refer to us as the ‘Jam Factory!’ but we are not a factory; we are a group of people who all benefit from working together to produce hand-made quality preserves. Skills involve measuring, weighing, chopping, slicing, peeling, following recipes, boiling, stirring, filling the hot jars and labelling, and with the support and understanding of the team, everyone can find a skill that matches and extends their capabilities.”

‘We, the team, are “The Real Jam and Chutney Company!’

Head to our website to read more about the Real Jam and Chutney Company or get in touch to find out how to get involved as a volunteer! Volunteers@MinsteadTrust.org.uk