Volunteers’ stories

'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.'

'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.'

The recent completion of the terraced garden is the latest addition to the park refurbishment.  Annick Alet reports on the latest developments and plans for the future.

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."

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."

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."

Volunteer baker
"I would encourage anyone to consider volunteering. It makes me feel connected with my local community and I am constantly impressed with the energy and passion around Brixton Windmill."

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."

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."

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."

Volunteer walks guide and trustee "I have met some lovely people, learned quite a lot about windmills, and keep discovering new things about the history of the area."

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."

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."

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."

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!"

Volunteer miller "I get a feeling of satisfaction that I have helped do my bit, and I enjoy the teamwork of milling."

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!"

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."

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."

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."

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."