Volunteers’ stories

  • Meet Alex – our volunteer of the month
    Meet Alex – our volunteer of the month
    Meet Alex Preusser – our volunteer of the …
  • Green Flag Award for 2023
    Green Flag Award for 2023
    Windmill Gardens awarded the coveted Green Flag …
  • Volunteer of the month – Eric Harvison
    Volunteer of the month – Eric Harvison
    I have been a volunteer for about 6 months, and have mainly been involved in baking and helping with the pop-up café and the shop in the Windmill Centre, also helping the team on open days.
  • Celebrating the life of Jeff Thomas
    Celebrating the life of Jeff Thomas
    Friday 22 July, 7pm to 9pm  Brixton Windmill …
  • Growing wheat in Windmill Gardens
    Growing wheat in Windmill Gardens
      This April, members of Brixton Windmill’s …
  • Friends of Windmill Gardens visit Kew
    Friends of Windmill Gardens visit Kew
    Members of FoWG’s Tai Chi and Gardening groups …
  • Volunteer of the month – Anoushka Almeida
    Volunteer of the month – Anoushka Almeida
    I have been a volunteer for about 6 months, and have mainly been involved in baking and helping with the pop-up café and the shop in the Windmill Centre, also helping the team on open days.
  • Dave Lennon
    Dave Lennon
    I’ve lived on the estate for 21 years and always had it in my mind to see what was going on locally, in order to see if I could help out and meet new people. The windmill seemed the obvious choice, because let’s face it… it’s cool as…😜
  • Priscilla Amankwah
    Priscilla Amankwah
    'I love interacting and welcoming parents and children visiting the cafe with a warm smile. Seeing the excitement on people's faces discovering Brixton Windmill for the first time is also nice.'
  • Joel Gray
    Joel Gray
    'I have met lovely inspiring people, it has allowed me to take part safely in volunteering during the lockdown, it's been a help to me to help others. It has given me an insight into how community spaces can work and a lot of hope for the future.'
  • Claire Bloxham
    Claire Bloxham
    Volunteer baker
    "I lost my job due to the Covid situation, and FoWG has been that little light that's kept me going. I see great things in the future for the Friends."
  • Mariana Elsesser
    Mariana Elsesser
    Volunteer miller
    "There are loads of different roles available here, and within a few months I had already branched into other areas of volunteering at the windmill. I love that my role here can be so varied."
  • Harvey Hannington
    Harvey Hannington
    Volunteer cook
    "The windmill is great because there’s so many different opportunities and different things you can get involved with, from milling to education to tour guides, so there’s really something for everyone here."
  • Donna Lister
    Donna Lister
    Volunteer fundraiser
    "Being able to commit, even if for only an hour or two a month, makes such a difference to organisations like Friends of Windmill Gardens."
  • Abs Holsborough
    Abs Holsborough
    Lead miller
    "I've volunteered in a lot of places but I’ve never done anything like this before! It’s been a way to get familiar with everyone keeping this living, breathing windmill still going after all these years."
  • Ann Lee
    Ann Lee
    Guide, volunteer coordinator and trustee
    "My job as an editor was fairly deskbound, so meeting the public and learning new presentation and communication skills has been good for me."
  • Sarah Bracken
    Sarah Bracken
    Steward and education volunteer "It's early days yet but I've enjoyed meeting the other volunteers and finding out about the history of the windmill. I knew the mill before it was renovated and it's nice to be involved in the regeneration - if only in a small way."
  • Annick Alet
    Annick Alet
    Park volunteer "As well as meeting loads of people and feeling useful to my community, I have improved myself by taking advantage of training opportunities offered by FoWG. It gave me additional transferable skills useful both for the windmill and for myself in other capacities. I have learned a lot about the place I live and made friends who have become very close."
  • Kim Winter
    Kim Winter
    Volunteer guide and communications co-ordinator "It’s made me feel more rooted in the community – I’ve met and worked with a lot of local people, and it’s great to feel that we can make a difference by working together."
  • Peter Skuse
    Peter Skuse
    Volunteer tour guide "My favourite thing about volunteering is the great team atmosphere, and in particular the enormous grin most visitors have on their faces when entering the top floor of the mill and seeing the simplicity but might of the gearing and wheels up there!"
  • Sheila Hearsum
    Sheila Hearsum
    Volunteer miller "I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling."
  • Joe Hall
    Joe Hall
    Volunteer tour guide "I learnt loads from the other volunteers who give tours and it's fab when you get into doing one. Even though you don't know everything, there are some brilliant 'ooooh' moments when people go inside or hear key titbits of the history — that's a great feeling!"
  • Chris Patton
    Chris Patton
    Volunteer designer "I love being part of a group of people who are working hard to promote an amazing industrial heritage project to the local community, to a London wide audience and making sure Brixton Windmill is around for a long time for future generations to enjoy."
  • Sonia Bailey
    Sonia Bailey
    Volunteer fundraiser and education facilitator "I thoroughly enjoy working with the school workshops, watching the animated faces of the young children (usually nursery and reception) as they learn about the windmill. Being a people person, I love interaction with the variety of people who visit from all walks of life."
  • Robert Adie
    Robert Adie
    Volunteer tour guide "For me, it's all about the people. Being part of a team is important and of course it's great meeting all of the different visitors who come to the windmill wanting to know its story."
  • Nick Weedon
    Nick Weedon
    Vice Chair, volunteer guide, photographer "I’m most proud of the difference we have made to Windmill Gardens, right from the beginning. It used to be in a state of disrepair, but we have introduced regular social activities that are attractive to the local residents regardless of background."
  • Planting bulbs in Windmill Gardens
    Planting bulbs in Windmill Gardens
    Planting bulbs in Windmill Gardens
Windmill Activity Pack
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Volunteer - Sheila

Sheila Hearsum – Volunteer

“I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling.”

Sheila Hearsum - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2017-03-13T11:54:16+00:00

Sheila Hearsum - volunteer

Volunteer - Sheila
“I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling.”
Volunteer - Annick

Annick Alet

As well as meeting loads of people and feeling useful to my community, I have improved myself by taking advantage...

Annick Alet - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2020-01-16T16:21:19+00:00

Annick Alet - volunteer

Volunteer - Annick
As well as meeting loads of people and feeling useful to my community, I have improved myself by taking advantage of training opportunities offered by FoWG.
Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Sarah Bracken

I’m enjoying meeting people and helping out while visitors find out about the history of the site.  It’s a little...

Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Brixton Windmill & Education Centre
2020-01-16T16:24:49+00:00

Sarah Bracken - volunteer

Sarah Bracken - volunteer
I’m enjoying meeting people and helping out while visitors find out about the history of the site.  It’s a little gem and should be known about!
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Brixton Windmill & Education Centre