Meet our volunteers

I founded Darwen Community Helpers CIC to have a positive impact on my community.  Throughout my life, I have suffered from mental health illnesses and understand the debilitating impact it can have on someone's daily life. It was during my time at university that I realised how much mental health illnesses impacted a wider community. It then became my dream to take action and create a warm, welcoming environment for anyone no matter where you come from or what illnesses you suffer from. It would be a place where people would find support, comfort, and hope. What I didn't envision was the impact it would have on my life meeting the people I have along this journey. My personal experience with volunteering has improved my mental well-being. It has created opportunities for me to meet new people in the community. And it has made me see the world from a new perspective.
 

 I joined Darwen Community Helpers as a volunteer shortly after meeting Sammy at her little hub where she welcomed me with a huge hug and proceeded to comfort me and make me feel like I mattered so much. (I struggle with my own health problems, anxiety being a big one) and In the shortest amount of time, her warmth and kindness had me back the next day wanting to give my time and support to as many people as possible to help our community to feel just a fraction of what Sammy did for me.  Xx 

 I volunteer for DCH because I was inspired by Sammy and her dream to help the Darwen Community. The shop is such a happy place and everyone is welcome.  You can come in and have a browse a natter a brew and you will leave with a smile.  I meet lots of lovely people and it makes me smile everyday. Xx 

Why I joined volunteering: I suffer from anxiety and the constantly being alone was making it worse, I wanted to get out and do something for the community and meet people who felt the same, Sammy reached out to me on the darwen noticeboard and I saw about her volunteering on her page. I decided to ask about joining and that's made such a big impact on me now, I feel more in control of my anxiety and less lonely since meeting sammy and the team. 

I decided to volunteer with Darwen Community Helpers after following Sammy on Facebook and realised what an inspiration she was to our Community. She goes above and beyond to help people as best she can xx