"Take a step into the unknown, you will be so glad you did!"

Meet Jane, Volunteer at Link Up Club in Knebworth

Link Up Club has been going for 40 years and has been providing hot food in the Knebworth Village Hall and since Covid in peoples homes by means of our delivery service. They reduce isolation and promote social inclusion and reduction of loneliness.

Hi, my name is Jane Turner and I volunteer for Link Up Club in Knebworth as the Treasurer and I also get involved in helping serve meals to our elderly diners, making tea and coffee after the meal, then helping to put everything away so we leave the Village Hall clean and tidy. 

My husband and I moved to Knebworth from the West Midlands 2 years ago to live near our grandchildren, who are 4 and 2 (and our daughter and son-in-law of course). I'm 64 years young and love being busy. I knew I wanted to throw myself into village life, so I joined a number of different clubs and associations locally in order to make friends. In September of 2021, Link Up Club was about to relaunch their weekly lunches in the Village Hall, which had been disbanded during Covid and turned into a meal delivery service instead. We decided to go along to sample the food and, being a fair bit younger than most of the diners, we were asked by the Chair if we would like to help out. We've both been volunteering for Link Up Club ever since. It's a great way to get to know new people from around the local area and we feel we are doing our bit for society. Certainly we have plenty of fun with the other volunteers and diners alike, even though it can be pretty full on some weeks when there aren't so many volunteers around to help. 

The thing about volunteering is that it is a Win-Win situation - the diners get pampered by the volunteers who help to cater to their every need and the volunteers reap their own rewards from seeing the difference they are making by being part of a team helping others. I've seen how volunteering transforms people from being shy and retiring, to really coming out of their shells and growing in confidence. There are so many opportunities to volunteer and even if you only have a small amount of time, there is a group out there who needs your time and skills. Take a step into the unknown, you will be so glad you did! 

Find out how you can help here https://www.govolherts.org.uk/o/Link-Up-Lunch-Club/opportunities