Volunteer Story (10) - Jenny

North Wales Womens Centre: I didn’t know what to do.

I gave up work to care for many members of my close family who were very ill at the same time. Having lost my parents, my mother-in-law and my husband within a short period of time, I didn’t know what to do. Following my bereavements I first started volunteering in a charity shop, but that wasn’t for me.

I decided I wanted to do something positive and learnt Reiki. Reiki is a relaxing method of holistic healing to help balance mind, body and spirit. Having become qualified to Reiki Master level, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Then my daughter told me about the Women’s Centre and an open day they were having. I found that they had a lady doing Reiki who told me she wanted to stop. When I mentioned that I had learnt Reiki, she asked if I wanted to take over. After thinking about it, I said yes. It’s been almost five years since then!

I’m giving something positive to others that helps them and that’s given me a focus in my life and also helped me. I got isolated when I looked after my family. Friends disappeared but here I’ve made new friends.

NWWC helped open opportunities. It’s been more than I expected because all the staff there are for you. When you come here there are people who care and listen. I feel proud of being in a place like this because all the support women can have. Lots of people have come through very difficult situations and all needs are different. I think we’re here to help each other. If I can help even one person it is a bonus. We should be helping one another, not fighting each other, despite our differences.

I’d be lost now without volunteering at NWWC – it’s become part of my life. So many people say to me ‘I don’t know what I’d do without the Centre’. I hope NWWC carries on and I’m still here with it.