Trish has been volunteering here at the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre since 2018.
“I first found out about Pickering when Polly came to give a talk at Thomson, Snell & Passmore [a law firm in Tunbridge Wells] where I was working at the time,” Trish explains. “It resonated with me, as I’d had my own cancer diagnosis in 2003.”
Trish retired in 2017 and gave herself six months of being ‘properly retired’ before getting in touch with Pickering to discover more about becoming a volunteer.
“Now I come in most Wednesdays and enjoy chatting with our visitors, making tea and helping out with some of the admin,” she says. “Having retired, I missed being ‘part of a team’ and the sense of belonging that comes with that. At Pickering, I’ve found that again.”
She continues: “I think that when they come here, visitors feel they are able to talk. Often, it’s an opportunity to share their thoughts with somebody who isn’t a loved one. It’s such a valuable local resource.”
“There’s a lovely warm feeling here at Pickering and I always look forward to coming in. I enjoy talking to our visitors and hearing their stories. I think they feel leaving a little better and I feel I’ve done something good with my time.”