Volunteer of the Month – Jayne

Jayne has been volunteering here for around 5 years and helps with numerous activities including event planning, baking and helping in the cafe.  Jayne’s organisational and baking skills are always super appreciated! Jayne completed our Volunteer of the Month questionnaire – here is some more about her: 

What sort of volunteering do you do with Friends of Windmill Gardens and how long have you been volunteering? 

I have been volunteering at the Windmill for about 5 years. I started off helping in the Café, baking cakes and serving drinks etc. Then since then, I’ve helped with some school visits, baking for tours, helping with crafts at the main events, helping to organise some of the main events- getting involved with the easter hunt, involving ordering a hundred small easter eggs! Other times I have helped with the children’s harvest festival baking workshops and sometimes helping out with the Thursday community club.

 Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do when you are not volunteering?

I am semi retired, as a Practice Nurse, so that takes some of my days. Other days are filled with becoming a grandparent for the first time, visiting new and old places in London, going to the theatre and catching up with friends.

How did you get into volunteering with FoWG? 

I have always volunteered, and so was looking for somewhere to spend my volunteering time. I saw an email from Lambeth volunteers, where the Windmill was asking for volunteers, and so I contacted them.

What’s your favourite thing about volunteering? 

It’s lovely meeting up with all of the volunteers and paid staff. Everybody is different, and it’s great catching up and finding out how they are. There is such a community feel around the windmill, this is reinforced when attending the events.

How have you benefited from volunteering? 

I have fulfilled my wish to continue volunteering. Otherwise, I now feel part of a community, as everyone is friendly and supportive. This is important to me for many reasons, but especially as I moved from Kent to London 8 years ago, not knowing anyone.

What advice would you give someone looking to volunteer? 

Please come along! There is always something that you will find that you will be happy doing. Time spent can be small, or a regular slot, new ideas are always welcome.

Tell us a surprising fact about Brixton Windmill (if you can)

A tricky one! I am still surprised that people who live in Brixton do not know that we exist.