Charity shop builds Claire’s confidence and sense of community
Ten years ago, Claire Parker walked into a charity shop near her home in south-east London and enquired about volunteering. Little did she know that the shop, which is run by Sense, a National Lottery-funded charity supporting disabled people, would become her ‘second home’.
Claire, 47, who is now the manager of Sense’s Mottingham shop, says she has never regretted taking the plunge and becoming a volunteer.
She said, “To be honest, I just needed something to do and I wanted to give something back. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted – in fact it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
At the time, the decision to volunteer was a big step as Claire hadn’t worked for several years after having children. Having to look after several sick members of her family extended her break from employment.
She said, “There was a part of me that doubted whether I could do it. But volunteering built my confidence up to the point where I’d run the shop when the manager was away. It gave me confidence and made me feel I was part of something that was helping people.”
Sense, which operates in homes, centres and communities right across the UK, works with disabled people no matter how complex their needs. Many people supported by Sense have two or more of the following: deafness or hearing impairment, blindness or vision impairment, learning disability and Autism.
Sense has been extensively supported by funding made possible by National Lottery players. In 2023, for example, it received £1.2Million to support a new national early intervention and play programme for children up to eight years old with complex disabilities.
Helping Sense carry out its work is only part of the reason Claire loves working at Sense Mottingham. She’s made friends at the shop and got to know members of her community who pop in to find a bargain or just have a chat.
She said, “It really makes you feel part of a community. You might not think you’re doing much, but you get so much out of it.”
12th December 2024
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