This week is volunteers week. All our members are volunteers and we are pleased that Tameside Rotarian Joyce Howarth MBE JP has agreed to share her story with us as to how being a volunteer impacts and benefits her life. Joyce wrote;

I have been a volunteer for the past 50 years with Charities and Voluntary Sector within Tameside.
I was first drawn to NSPCC locally where I was active for 21 years. During that time I helped to set up the first Pre-School Playgroup in our area, a most rewarding experience.

Setting up a luncheon club for older Bangladeshi men in Hyde was a new experience. It is now in its thirty second year and a large number of people have benefitted from its existence. I am the Chair of this group, which keeps me busy, and I have made many friends as well as getting to know a large section of that community.

The setting up and continued involvement with a luncheon club for Pakistani women in Ashton 26 years ago, which is still very active, brought many friends which are valued by me.

In 2008 with support from the local authority, I became involved in setting up Friends of Tameside Young Carers for which I am their Chair. There are presently 479 young carers in Tameside. Our role is raising money so that we are able to support our young carers in their sports and leisure time activities so that they enjoy the same experiences as their peers. Those of you who are involved in raising funds will appreciate how difficult this has become and the amount of innovation and involvement required.
I am a School Governor and a Governor with a mental health provider in Tameside.

I have been a Rotarian since 2000 and am involved in their many projects within the Community.
In 2012 I was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen on receiving an MBE for my services to the Community of Tameside.

The rewards as a volunteer is immense, to know that you are making a difference, supporting people at their vulnerable times and making lifelong friends is priceless.