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Report transcript in: Tony's Volunteer Story
Please Report the Errrors?
joined by Tony, who is one of our virtual talk and support group volunteers.
Um, thanks for talking to me today, Tony.
Um, can I ask?
Hi. Hi. Can I ask you what motivated you to become a volunteer?
And how's it going for you so far?
Um, what mo
motivated? Michelle
was in 2017. I contracted
encephalitis
and, as a result, became epileptic. Um,
I hadn't had any serious illnesses up until that time. I was 59
and I found it to be a bit of a life changing experience.
It took me several years to get anywhere near back to normal. Um,
which I apart from daily medication? I am now,
but, uh, having sort of gone through what I went through,
I'd like to try and help other people who are experiencing similar things.
Really?
How are you finding volunteering, then?
Yeah, I'm quite enjoying it. I mean, um,
we don't do many, uh uh, sessions.
I'm probably doing about two a month because of other commitments, but
some of the positive feedback, uh, we've received have been very, very gratifying.
You know, a lot of people I've found
seem to think they're in a small minority?
Well, illness minority. But they don't know anybody with epilepsy, or
they don't know anybody who, Um They care for people with epilepsy,
and, uh,
they find it quite rewarding to listen to
people who have experienced similar things as themselves.
Yeah. So what?
Um, what kind of things happen in the group,
then what do you do as a virtual talk and support group volunteer?
Well, normally there's there's two of us, uh, conducting the group, um,
group hosts.
And, uh, we introduce ourselves,
uh, let
the audience know why we're there, our experience with epilepsy. And then we let the
audience, uh,
tell a little bit about themselves, why they're there,
what they hope to gain from the session.
Then we just go around the group.
You know,
asking them if anybody's got any questions and
is a discussion takes place from then on.
Great.
So what difference do you think?
Um, that your volunteering role makes to the to you and to also people in the group.
Um,
well, to me, it's nice to give something back.
It was, as I said before, it was a long struggle to get anywhere near back to normal.
for me, Uh, what I call normal
and I think similarly for people who are in the group, uh,
they often feel that they're just alone in a bit of a a minority.
And, having
having the chance to talk to people in similar situations
makes them realise that, um, you know, they're not alone.
Uh, and there's some positive out outlooks ahead.
Yeah. Great.
Um,
so how does volunteering make you feel then?
Um, like I said, I got a lot of support from members of the family,
but other people when I was sick.
And, um, I felt that, uh,
I feel fully recovered now. I'm still on daily medication, obviously, but
to other aspects of life, it's normal. I'm driving and everything.
And, um,
it's I feel like I want to give something back to other people who
are struggling in a similar way to how I was when I became epileptic.
Yeah.
So do you think, um, volunteering kind of supports your well being?
Yes, it does. To a degree. Yeah. It's nice to be able to give something back.
I say I've I've come through a long, dark passage in my life,
and I've come out the other end.
And if I can help people do that, then it's I find it beneficial myself.
Yeah.
So it sounds like you've had some per a lot of personal challenges. Um,
in your life. What do you think? Have you had any, um, challenges with volunteering?
Um,
not really. It's it's it's tough to get to know.
I mean, I'm a retired man now, So, um,
you know, uh, all the stuff I used to know as an engineer, um, sort of.
I've forgotten that. So it's a bit of
a learning
curve,
but, um, you know, there's there's no pressure, uh,
to do things with epilepsy action, which is the one of the things I I like.
I enjoy that.
So we just have to learn as we go along.
And, um, so far so good, you know, everything's going well.
Well, I'm glad to hear that.
Um,
what would you say to, um, anyone else who was unsure about whether to volunteer?
I would say Give it a go, because it's very relaxed.
You know, there's there's no, uh, pressure on you. You only do what you
you feel you can do,
you know and If you want to take a break at any time,
then they're more than happy to give you a break.
And I it's I enjoy doing it. It's nice to give something back. And
when you conduct a, um
uh, a chat with other people and you haven't got to do anything,
they're all talking amongst themselves, which is a good thing.
They're getting things off their chest, you know,
discussion area discussing their issues.
Then you know you're doing something.
Well,
something beneficial for other people in a similar
situation to how you've you've been yourself.
Yeah, it's Yeah, it's good in the groups, and people are just chatting away And you,
you know, they're getting a lot out of it.
Yeah.
So, what are you looking forward to in the future? As a volunteer?
I'm happy what I'm doing. What I'm doing at the moment, Michelle, Um
you know, uh, just really to help people have a chat, you know, discuss their issues.
The positive feedback we've been getting sometimes and people
who have said they all they felt all alone
and having discussed the things with people in
similar situations is very gratifying for me,
and I'm just happy to carry on doing what I'm doing.
Well, that's good to hear.
Um, and we appreciate all the things that you do,
and I'm glad to hear that you want to carry on doing it.
Um,
so it's, uh, been so nice to talk to you today, Tony,
And thank you very much for sharing your volunteer story.
Uh, with me.
Um,
so
Yeah. Great. Thank you.
It's a
pleasure.
Thank you very much.
See you later. Bye
now.
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