Ellie’s Volunteering Story
I’m Ellie and I have been a volunteer for Guy’s Gift since 2018.
After finishing university, I returned to volunteering for Guy’s Gift, helping at the in-person groups. My family was one of the first that used Guy’s Gift and I have loved seeing the charity grow and help hundreds of families after us.
My Dad passed away in 2010, which was an incredibly difficult time for us.
Guy’s Gift provided support and counselling for me, giving me a safe space to express and process my emotions after losing my dad.
Fifteen years later, that grief has stayed with me but has been easier to carry with time and support that Guy’s Gift provided. Having experienced Guy’s Gift support, I later began volunteering as a teeanger after school to aid with the support groups. I have seen Guy’s Gift grow over the years as the team and charity has expanded, being able to offer more help to those in need.
What I most enjoy about volunteering is seeing how different young people can do the same activities and answer the same prompts with a rich variety of responses. Every salt jar, memory box and group discussion brings something new that reflects their relationship to the person they have lost.
My favourite activity is the stones, taking an ordinary, jagged and special stone and connecting them to our memories. It provides a moment of self-reflection, allows for sharing and can be a great source of comfort. Even I find new memories to hold onto every time I reflect in this way.
I hope anyone who is considering whether to volunteer will find this helpful. Guy’s Gift is an incredibly important service, ran by a lovely team and the help I received at eight has helped me at twenty-three.
Ellie with her Dad, Neil.
From the team here at Guy’s Gift, we want to say a huge thank you to Ellie for her compassion, empathy and friendship she provides to the children and young people she works with. Ellie provides a supportive, listening ear for those who need it most, and she is wonderful at coming up with new ideas for both the younger children and the teenagers. Ellie has turned her personal experience of grief into a way of helping others, and this hugely reflects her kind nature and dedication to helping others. Thank you for being you!
Feeling inspired by Ellie’s story? Head over to our website to read about our volunteering opportunities, and complete an application form via the link below:
