Volunteering at Belong

Belong Wigan tenant and volunteer Marilyn can usually be found lending a helping hand to the experience team.

More often than not it can be the smallest gestures than have the biggest impact. Marilyn Nicholson has been a tenant at Belong Wigan for the past six years and can usually be found lending a helping hand to the experience team.

From supporting customers to mark their bingo cards, making cups of tea or loading the dishwasher, Marilyn is happy to help. She’ll guide others to the toilet if they forget where it is, and we’re also told that customers even save their knitting nightmares for the next knit and natter session in the knowledge that Marilyn will work her magic to resolve the issue and get it back on track.

The village’s experience coordinator, Charlene Frodsham, tells us more: “Marilyn helps us with everything and anything! I think helping others comes naturally to her and it’s lovely to see her thrive when she’s around others.”

Marilyn says: “Everyone is so nice, appreciative – one gentleman calls me his ‘guardian angel’! I’ve made good friends, and we try to be there for everyone. We all look after one another. All these years I’ve been here, there’s always been someone there for me and it means a lot when you’ve not got your family on your doorstep.

“Coming to the activities and helping gives me purpose. I can't imagine being on my own all day – that would be awful. I love it here; I absolutely love it. Coming to Belong is the best thing I ever did. Now I’m going to start getting emotional!”

Charlene takes over:“It can be something as small as linking arms with someone when we go to the community centre. It's lovely to see and we’re very grateful for Marilyn’s contribution to village life.”