After leaving teaching feeling lost, Joel found purpose and belonging through volunteering at KEMP hospice.
Joel’s Story
From Burnout to Belonging
After 24 years working in education, Joel knew a change was needed. “I came out of teaching feeling quite lost. I didn’t quite know where I was mentally… everything had just snowballed. I’d not put my health and wellbeing first, and in the end, I just hit a wall – it was as if I couldn’t do it anymore. That was the point I realised I needed to make a change for my health. A few weeks later, I stepped into KEMP… I needed somewhere safe, and I felt that KEMP was that place.”
Finding the Right Place to Give Back
“I’ve known of KEMP for years, whether through the schools I’ve worked in or through personal connections – we’ve always supported KEMP in various ways. I’ve had staff members who have used the hospice, and family members too.
I’ve tapped into the counselling service from a school point of view. I’ve managed to get support for children who’ve gone through bereavement in the past. It’s in my local area. I think hospice care is really important and it’s something that often gets overlooked, it’s just taken for granted. I knew that I wanted to continue to give back.”
Turning Knowledge into Impact
“It was a conversation with the GP that got me thinking about volunteering. He said, ‘Why don’t you try doing something that allows you to give back?’ I wanted to do something that was worthwhile and apply some of the skills that I’ve got to a different environment. I’m also part of the local Men’s Walking and Talking group. The leader there said, ‘Why don’t you speak to Roy about volunteering at KEMP?’ and then the stars aligned. I decided on KEMP because it’s a local charity and it’s something that’s quite close to my heart.”
The “Buzz” of Making a Difference
“I didn’t feel ready for a front-facing role or one where I’d be talking to lots of people. I wasn’t in that frame of mind. I just wanted something that I could do that would give me a bit of purpose. So my role within KEMP has been working in retail with Linda on the eBay side of things. The buzz is finding something that I know has got value that other people have overlooked, and then seeing it get the money back in and knowing that it’s going to a good cause.
Linda just let me get on, research the things that I wanted to research, find the items that I wanted to list, and then over time relationships have developed. It’s just nice to be part of that community where you’re all pulling in the same direction and you get to make a tangible difference. I kept track of all the stuff that I’ve sold on eBay – I just broke £6,500 last week! I didn’t think that my knowledge of things like consoles, games and pop culture, all that nerdy stuff, could be that useful.”
Understanding the Impact on Both Sides
“I know how important it is to the families. I’ve seen it from the other side. I’ve seen the benefit of the counsellors, I’ve seen the benefit of the care for the people that are coming to the day hospice, and also the families who have just got that bit of space in a quite difficult time.
I knew as soon as I walked into the warehouse and Tash greeted me that this is where I wanted to spend my time. It’s the people that make it special. The mission as a whole, the vision behind what KEMP is for, but also the people that embody that.”
Rediscovering Purpose Through Volunteering
Through volunteering at KEMP, Joel rediscovered his confidence and found the courage to return to paid employment, starting an exciting new chapter in a different role.
“My time at KEMP has been part of my recovery. From a personal point of view, I could have just hibernated at home and wallowed in despair, but this gave me purpose. KEMP has given me a routine – I knew every week I’ve got KEMP and that Linda, Tash or Paul will be there to chat and check in.
I know that they care because they remember things: when I had an interview, they asked how it had gone; they remembered when I went on holiday and asked how it was. Those things make a difference. It’s been great and I think the staff and the volunteers are a credit to the organisation. KEMP wraps their arms around the people who work and volunteer. Thank you!”
Learn more about KEMP’s Volunteering opportunities.
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