Meet Terry. He’s been a part of the incredible volunteer team in Horatio’s Garden London & South East at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore for over four years. He’s seen the garden right from the very beginning and has worked alongside his fellow volunteers to nurture the planting throughout its infancy.
As well as helping the garden to become the thriving sanctuary it is today, he always takes the time to get to know the people spending time in the garden, their families and friends, and NHS staff members too.
You can also always rely on Terry to give a warm welcome to anyone who joins the London & South East volunteer team! Have a read below to discover more about his story so far.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Horatio’s Garden?
“I volunteer for Horatio’s Garden because I was inspired by the charity and its mission. Having the chance to work in a garden and work with people is what drew me in.”
When did you begin volunteering?
“I was fortunate enough to be here for the first week of planting back in August 2020. It was fantastic to be involved with that.”
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
“It’s a joy to work in such a beautiful garden. It’s completely different to the gardens you have the opportunity to work in at home! It’s also about the volunteers – you meet so many different people, from different walks of life, and everyone brings something new and something interesting. I also really enjoy the conversations I have with patients. It’s having that mix of people and there always being something to learn.”
How do you feel when you come to Horatio’s Garden?
“Positive. I always look forward to spending the day in the garden. You know you’re going to have the chance to interact differently with lots of different people than you do on other days. You’re also doing something worthwhile. It’s always positive (so far, anyway)!”
What does a volunteering day look like for you?
“There’s a real sense of community here and it’s very laid back. The joy is that we’re ad hoc volunteers, so we all turn up on different days, meaning we often have the chance to meet lots of different members of the team whenever we come in. I usually have conversations with patients and NHS staff too, which are all very calm and natural. There’s always a positive atmosphere and no one is afraid to interact.”
What’s the one thing you would say to someone thinking of volunteering?
“Go for it. It’s a win-win situation. As a volunteer, you’ve always got something to offer. Even whilst you may not think you’ve got skills and so on, you’ve always got something to offer, and you’re always going to gain from who you interact with and what you see. So, I would say, just go for it!”