Hi Maggie and Jo
Maggie, the work you do is nothing short of inspirational and must provide so much benefit for so many people. I'm glad you are able to be involved in something like this because there is so much need out there and to be able to understand some of the problems with your own first hand experience is great. Hope you have lots of success :)
Jo, like you I had to leave a job I enjoyed and worked very hard to get. Left on the scrap heap at 31 is a real bummer! Since my children started school I have always got involved with volunteering, firstly at their Primary school and later at High school where I am secretary of the PTA.
I don't need to be 'well' to do this and I can put so much into it because I have the time. In fact I have spent this afternoon doing PTA jobs, typing letters, agenda for the next meeting, email acknowledgements for stationery pack orders etc. This has become my job. Alas, come next summer my youngest leaves school and I know I will be out of 'my job' as I will no longer fit the criteria. It does worry me considerably because despite the aggro the job gives me at times, it has also been a life saver. I would otherwise have been sat at home, meeting no-one with nothing to do. In terms of mental health it would have been rubbish!
With the impending vision of having too much time on my hands in 12 months I have wondered about setting up a local NRAS support group. Our nearest at the moment is Jean's group in Bolton so there is a definite need. But whether I could hack it I'm not sure. I have a lot of managerial and organisational skills but not quite so much confidence these days! Something to think about for the future anyway.
Oops tea time best be off for now!!
Lyn x
