Volunteer's week - Meet a few of our amazing volunteers

From Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th June, we’re jumping into the nationwide celebration that is Volunteers’ Week – and it’s time to give a shout out to our amazing crew of nearly 400 volunteers who help power everything we do at Versus Arthritis!

Now marking its 40th year, Volunteers’ Week is all about spotlighting the game-changing role volunteers play across the UK. And we’re all in. Whether it’s fundraising, running our online forums, sharing personal stories, leading movement sessions, offering peer support, managing admin behind the scenes, driving campaigns, or helping shape the future of the charity – our volunteers are the heartbeat of it all.

Read some inspiring stories from our incredible people who work behind the scenes.

Lydia Gahr

My name is Lydia, and I am a Youth Contact Volunteer for the Young People and Families Service in Scotland and the Young Readers Versus Arthritis Book Club for 11–16-year-olds.

I joined Versus Arthritis as a participant shortly after being diagnosed and it made such an important and positive impact on my life. I know that without Versus Arthritis, I wouldn’t have my arthritis as under control as I do now, and I wouldn’t have the same quality of life, or support group around me.

When I found out there were options to volunteer, I knew that it was something I wanted to do. I’ve benefited so much from the work that Versus Arthritis does and I wanted to be able to contribute towards that for others with arthritis and young people joining the charity.

My favourite thing about volunteering at Versus Arthritis is the community and support network. I love being able to contribute to the safe and supportive community and seeing the impact of the charity on young people, for example through their increased confidence, is fantastic.

Susan Morrison

My name is Susan and I’ve been volunteering for just over a year now. I have two volunteering roles at Versus Arthritis. One is taking part in Patients Voice, where I speak to students at different universities about how rheumatoid arthritis affects me in my everyday life. I think it’s a great way to show medical professionals that there is a person behind the illness.

Secondly, I am the facilitator for a zoom call for people in Argyll and Bute, a drop-in session where people can chat for as long or as little as they wish, and discuss how they deal with their arthritis and other skeletal and chronic conditions.

I’ve been lucky that I didn’t get diagnosed until I was in my mid-50s. I discovered a workshop run by Versus Arthritis to discuss dealing with arthritis and was so impressed that I wanted to volunteer and set about finding out more. I have always volunteered throughout my life in various things. However, I felt this was very personal and that it was important to make people more aware of the help that was available.

I love meeting people and also enjoy learning new skills, and my self-confidence has grown as a result. Through volunteering with Patients Voice I feel that we are helping medical students understand the person and therefore hopefully make them more empathetic, which in turn creates a positive impact when dealing with people with arthritis.

If I can help raise awareness and educate people who may not know what support is available, then I feel like I have played my part.

Susan Twiggs

My name is Susan, and I’m a participant in the Chi Me classes, which are run by a volunteer for Versus Arthritis at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley. I read the information about the classes after I saw a post on Facebook.

After my arthritis diagnosis, I felt it was important to focus on improving my mobility and balance, and Tai Chi supports that aim. I can access local classes and felt more confident attending with fellow arthritis members.

I enjoy being with others who are in a similar situation to me and feel supported and able to learn more about arthritis and how others are living with it. I feel the movement in Tai Chi is strengthening and calming, and the support of the group is extremely beneficial both physically and mentally.

Our Versus Arthritis Volunteer instructor shows empathy and understanding as she lives with rheumatoid arthritis herself and if standing is uncomfortable, seated options are available. She shares her passion for Thai Chi, nutrition and a love of the natural world which enhances our weekly sessions. She freely shares information about Versus Arthritis and is an enthusiastic advocate for charity.

The ambience is so beneficial and calm, gentle movements build balance and strength while the focus on your breath aids with medication, all of which are so beneficial to people living with arthritis.

Rosemay Marland

My name is Rosemay and I live in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I have been a Versus Arthritis volunteer for about 3 years now.  I was looking for something to do during lock down and I joined a Versus Arthritis class online for Tai-chi, which then lead me into training as a volunteer for Seated Yoga and Chi-Me, which I deliver in my local village hall. I also volunteer for Patient Voice.

What I most love about volunteering at Versus Arthritis is being able to help people in the community and anyone with mobility issues. I know my volunteering has made an impact for people with arthritis because participants discuss with me how much better they feel after having taken part in class, also socially it helps them from feeling less isolated, having company and the enjoyment of meeting new people.

As much as I enjoy seeing participants enjoying the class, it is so worthwhile for myself, physically and mentally too!

Kathy Morrison

My name is Kathy, and I live in Helensburgh, Scotland. I have been a volunteer since April 2024 and I am involved as an Information and Support talks volunteer, a Patient Voice volunteer and a Peer support volunteer (informal).

I decided to volunteer after attending a five-week Versus Arthritis self-management course last year. On the first day I couldn’t speak - I was so anxious - but the encouragement and support I received from others really helped me to get more involved in the group. The course helped me so much that I wanted to help and support others in the same way. I felt I was more able to manage my pain and take control of it. It really helped me to manage my anxiety and build my confidence. I just want to help others to share their experiences and find ways to help them to feel better supported.

What I most enjoy about volunteering at Versus Arthritis is being able to share tips, feeling that I have helped support people to be less isolated and offered a means of peer support. The patient voice experiences I have been involved in have really helped me to further grow my confidence. I have also been involved in the osteoarthritis of hand pathway work as a patient. This was significant for me to think that my input could make a difference to clinical pathways for people.

I have also made new friends through my Versus Arthritis volunteering roles which has been great.

I really enjoy the feeling that I have helped someone. Our WhatsApp group continues to offer peer support to each other and several of us meet up regularly. I use the group to check in with everyone and encourage people to chat and meet up. Sometimes it’s for walks, swims, runs, and/or coffee and a blether.

I work in a charity shop in Helensburgh and when people come in and chat to me I signpost them to the website and to other places that I know could help them. I get a lot out of helping people in any way I can.

With the experience I have had, I would just like to say how privileged I feel to be a Versus Arthritis volunteer. And at the same time this is so humbling. Volunteering has changed my life in every positive way possible!