"nothing is more important than the community and people"
and that is one of the reasons why Jeremy volunteers. He strongly believes that "volunteering is very satisfying and gives a sense of purpose. It also, makes me grateful for what I've got."
Jem Silverstone, in his early sixties, has lived in potters Bar for some 35 years. He was born in Enfield and for many years he has worked in marketing, graphic design, and copywriting. From our conversation, it was clear to me that the art of good communication is important to Jem.
He has done a lot of volunteering, but it was at the start of COVID that he signed up with Communities 1st. He started doing shopping and then, in response to a call for help, he moved on to supporting the vaccination centre in Borehamwood, helping with marshalling and stewarding. Today he spends 1-2 hours each week helping with shopping and delivering prescriptions and this fits in well with a range of other activities in his life. He is happy to work with Communities 1st because, he told me, "they are well organised, nice people, and their heart is in the right place. They are always accessible and approachable." Good communication, I thought!
Common sense and compassion
"For the last eighteen months, I have shopped regularly for a gentleman, Morris*, who lives close by. Morris is in his late sixties and has health and mobility issues," Jem explained. "We get om well and he is appreciative of the service, and I'm grateful for that. While I mostly shop, I will sometimes do other tasks - dealing with the post office, helping when he needs to do an online response because he hasn't got a computer, and providing social contact." The Communities 1st system, through the volunteer's dashboard, "is very straight-forward and easy to use."
Jem also helps by collecting prescriptions for another elderly gentleman, Martin*, who is quite isolated as his partner recently died. Again, the social contact is just as important as the practical task of picking up and delivering the prescription. Jem feels he has established a good rapport with Martin and if something wasn’t quite right Jem is confident that he would know about it and take action. For example, on one occasion he was worried that Martin was struggling so he raised his concerns with both the pharmacist and Communities 1st. In turn the pharmacist consulted Martin’s GP and as a result Martin improved.
Being a listening ear
"Just spending a few minutes talking and listening isn't difficult." Jem commented. "I'm a listening ear and I find that Morris and Martin will confide in me"
"The human contact is important for us all. I feel I'm doing something useful and making a little difference."
He reflected that “It’s always appreciated if you are able to listen and be there for someone else.”
Jem feels he gets a lot out of helping and that the whole experience is mentally enriching for himself as well as for Morris and Martin. He firmly believes that these "little differences," made by volunteers add up to a greater good. He added "if anyone is thinking of volunteering, I cannot recommend Communities 1st highly enough. If you have some time, please donate it."
However, there is a tinge of regret in Jem's voice because he really wishes that there wasn't a need for organisations like Communities 1st. "Society - and especially the government - should be doing much more than it does. We need a much more robust approach to helping the vulnerable." Clearly, there is a political side to Jem and there is an interesting debate to be had.
The adrenaline junkie
Jem is a busy man. He fits his volunteering with Communities 1st into a packed life which he shares with his wife Gina. As well as working full time, he is involved in other voluntary groups, including Help & Hope for the Homeless and the charity In Sue’s Name which raises money for research into brain cancer. Jem is a keen Spurs fan and enjoys cricket. He also loves live music and going to festivals, particularly Glastonbury! He is always in awe of the great job that the many Glasto volunteers do for the greater good and he is always conscious of the need to say thank you to them.
He admits to being "an adrenalin junkie." He has survived a zip wire challenge and bungee jumps in aid of In Sue's Name and is about to do a high-level skydive for the charity. While he loves the buzz he gets from these outrageous challenges, he is all too aware that his volunteering in the community helps keep him grounded. He concluded our chat by reminding me of what Churchill once said: "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." Giving is an important part of Jem's life. Undoubtedly, he is making a big difference.
(*Not his real name)
Written by Chris Cloke, volunteer