Volunteering at Big Breakfast Plus involves time, commitment, and a willingness to get up early! So, we are lucky to have so many who are willing to help us provide breakfasts for hungry people in Swindon.
We talked to two of our volunteers, Angela and Roger, and asked what they enjoyed about volunteering and what prompted them to start.
Angela is one of our longest-serving volunteers, who joined us in 2022, when Big Breakfast Plus reopened following Covid, in our new venue at The Pilgrim Centre.
She had seen a notice about Big Breakfast Plus in her church newsletter. Having retired from teaching, she felt ready to start something new.
“At first, I was quite apprehensive, because I wondered who I would meet, but I have found it a joy,” said Angela.
“We opened two days a week then. The first day we opened we were all bright eyed and bushy tailed and we had one guest, Stuart, who came in. He still comes in, and we like to make a big fuss of him as he was our first guest.”
The word soon spread, and now we are serving as many as 100 plus breakfasts in any one day and are open seven days a week.
Angela added: “Many become regulars, and we get to know them well, and it is lovely when they get to know my name too. For example, we have one group who come in every day, who always sit together and socialise, and it is all about the friendship.
“We had one guest who we hadn’t seen for a little while, so we mentioned this to the local police officers. They managed to track him down to where he lives. Fortunately, he was fine, and we were very reassured. I was so impressed that they took the time.
“I find it very rewarding, and my family can see how much I get out of it. I am not a morning person, but I am very happy to get up early to volunteer here.”
Roger has been volunteering at Big Breakfast Plus for a few months. Now retired, he has a 35-year career in the military behind him.
While he was still working, Roger supported many charities, including Swindon Sea Scouts. He volunteered at local schools, and he has been a Duke of Edinburgh assessor. He’s also a former St John Ambulance officer.
“I found I had more time on my hands, and my wife is still working in education, so I was looking to help a charity,” said Roger.
“I am also a big gym goer, but injured my shoulder recently, so I wasn’t getting out and I could feel myself getting a bit low. Volunteering at Big Breakfast Plus gets me up in the morning, and I get a huge amount out of it.”
So, why Big Breakfast Plus?
“I had known about the charity for a while, so I took the leap and volunteered, and I love it,” he said. “I really wanted to help, because it’s appalling people are hungry and don’t have enough to eat. If you can’t eat, you can’t live. It’s at the base of all survival; the basic needs are water, shelter, and food.
Now we are serving more than 70 meals every day we certainly need your support. £10 a month through Local Giving ensures we can continue to provide a nourishing hot meal and some friendly company every day of the week.
If Angela and Roger have inspired you to volunteer, or to make a donation, please get in touch. You can find out more about volunteering here.