By Kathryn Littlewood, Area Manager
KeyRing Sheffield is rapidly developing with new staff, and we have been busy recruiting volunteers and students. Currently we have three wonderful volunteers who have recently started and three students. The difference this is already making to our Members' lives is incredible.
At the wonderful age of 84, Margaret still thinks about helping others. She says:
"You know when you get that feeling inside you that you are meant to be somewhere, that's how I felt when I first came to KeyRing to meet everyone. I knew I was in the right place. I have worked in a care home as a cleaner and one day, they said to me 'Margaret, put away your mop and bucket, you have more to offer than cleaning' and I started as a support worker".
Margaret loved her job but since retirement, she feels lost and lonely.
"People like me have wisdom and we have experience to share to make people's lives better. I don't want to be stuck in a flat on my own all day, I want to be out making the world a better place" Margaret added. Margaret supports Members by phone and has started meeting one Member in town for coffee and a catch-up each week.
Imogen has been volunteering with us for a few months now. She was our first volunteer and supports us in the hubs each week. Imgoen says:
"I may have not been at KeyRing long, but it's such a lovely and positive thing what they do as an organisation. When people hear the word 'Support Worker' they don't think about how people need the support on a deeper, mental level. That individuals with a range of different needs have the right and want to be treated the same, they don't want to be lonely, they want to live the life they want to live.
I do have a paid role at IBK Initiatives, supporting families to find PAs but volunteering to help others has always been a big part of my life. I have so much empathy, I have a disability myself, I understand those feelings about not been heard, people not being patient and understanding and using the disability to define you not who you are as a person.
Joining the volunteering team at KeyRing, feeling welcome and fitting in so quickly, has been great. It has built my confidence and given me a greater understanding of others with a disability. I'm looking forward to being a part of all the new ideas and experiences to come."
Wendy joined our team a few weeks ago and is already making a real difference to Members' lives, meeting up with them and accompanying them to the cinema, supporting people in the hubs. Wendy says:
"I'm passionate about connecting people and want to help people enjoy activities that they might not be able to do without support. KeyRing Sheffield is such a welcoming place and I am enjoying my role very much."
Carmen came as a student on placement a few weeks ago and has already found her feet in terms of supporting Members.
Richard is a young student from Rotherham College and after teaching him how to create Easy Read information, he is producing Easy Read recipes for Members in our Monday Cook and Eat hub. Rhys is out painting and decorating Members' homes with our support staff each week.
Josh, who came to us a few weeks ago from Sheffield Hallam University has impressed us all so much we offered him a role on the team. He says:
"I was fortunate enough to work with KeyRing as a student for the period of six weeks. In this time, not only was I welcomed into a team founded in morals of advocacy, inclusion and care for the people of value they support. I also got to work with some of most genuine, kind and abled people in our communities with various needs and aspirations.
Through supporting these individuals not only were we able to build genuine connections but I was also able to help them achieve their goals and aspirations, providing holistic inclusion and support for all.
I am eternally grateful for the team I worked with and the people I supported on a personal and professional level. Thank you to everyone at KeyRing."
We are lucky to have such great people working with us and want to celebrate those individuals who are working so hard to make KeyRing Sheffield a truly wonderful place to be.
Thank you from all staff at KeyRing Sheffield.