Volunteering is a great way to get involved with Goals Beyond Grass, whilst also having lots of fun.
We have a very lively and dynamic group of employees, who couldn’t do what they do without the help of volunteers.
Brian, Laura, Kyarna
Brian, Laura and Kyarna are a family that live in Gloucester. Brian and Laura have been together for years, meeting just 6 months before Laura had life changing surgery, meaning she then became a wheelchair user. Laura has an older son who has learning and physical disabilities, who lives away from home, although he regularly visits and participates in our Sunday Cycling Sessions. Laura and Brian’s daughter Kyarna is only 4 years old, being our Youngest Volunteer, and she learnt to cycle with GBG, as she has been attending sessions since she was a baby.
Laura’s first involvement with GBG was as a participant. She couldn’t bear weight due to her spinal operations, so thought it was amazing to find something she could do as a family. ‘Many things cater for a disabled participant and a carer, but as a mum of a sun with disabilities, and a family who all cared for each other, our options for activities were very limited’. As Laura grew in confidence, she found herself helping out in a voluntary role with the Belmont Cycling sessions on a Sunday. Seeing the difference it made to Laura, and the help they needed due to having an adapted role, Brian then joined in to help out.
This involvement started in 2016, under a different company, until she moved over to GBG with Mary Clare in 2017. Brian then officially joined as a volunteer at the same time in 2017, with Kyarna being born in 2018, and coming along to the sessions almost immediately, as a ‘Little Helper’.
On a Sunday at the Belmont Cycling Sessions, Laura helps out by doing the welcoming of participants, some of the admin, and taking the payments from participants. Laura has recently started helping in the GBG office doing some admin work, such as data input. Brian’s voluntary time is taken up mainly by loading ad unloading the bikes, taking bikes to different people who need them, and maintenance of the bikes. He does this on a Sunday at Belmont, and on a Monday at BlackBridge Athletics Track. Kyarna comes along with the two of them on a Sunday, and on a Monday in the school holidays. Her role is to take care of the GBG Bikes Mascot – Mr Trunkerton, and to smile as much as she can, which helps put a smile on the participants’ faces also.
‘The best part about volunteering is that every day is different, and the participants are great. Learning about other people’s needs and adaptations has also given us a broader outlook on life. The personal gains I have experienced through volunteering are also amazing, such as my increased confidence since starting. After my surgery, I wouldn’t leave the house, and I am amazed at myself for getting out and volunteering twice a week now. Volunteering has helped to get me back into the real world, and I hope this can help me get a job one day. I am also now studying as a Mature Student now, which would never had happened if it wasn’t for this increase in confidence that has been as a result of my volunteering’ – Laura
‘I love cycling the bikes with other people’ – Kyarna
‘She enjoys making sure that the participants are ok, and the hot chocolate when it’s cold’ – Laura when asked about Kyarna at the sessions
Brian enjoys the fact that the sessions can be like a break for him. Volunteering also makes him feel valued, improving his self-esteem, confidence levels, and mental health.
Richard
Richard is a 70-year-old volunteer that helps out with our Inclusive Cycling Programme Weekly. Throughout his life, he has always loved cycling, and has done a number of tours in the past, as well as triathlons, although he can’t do the running anymore. He has been volunteering with GBG since 2020 with the cycling programme when GBG started these sessions.
On a Sunday, Richard helps with bringing the bikes out of the containers at Belmont School. He then helps the participants with getting on and off the bikes when they need help, and putting the bikes away at the end of the sessions. He also volunteers every other Tuesday with the sessions in the Forest of Dean, which involves the same work as at the Belmont Sessions.
Richard’s favourite parts about volunteering is the ‘sense of joy and satisfaction he gets when seeing people enjoying their cycling’, further quoting that the younger riders are always the happiest, with the biggest smiles and laughs.
“It’s a pleasure working with MaryClare, who is one of the hardest working people I know. She really makes a difference to a lot of people’s lives.” – Richard
Charlie
Charlie is a 21 Year Old Frame Runner from the Forest of Dean. She is currently number 2 in the UK, having competed against the best of the best for many years. In 2016, Charlie competed in Barcelona for the World Games and came back with 2 Bronze, 1 Silver, and 1 Gold Medal, being crowned World Champion over 400 meters. In 2022, at the Prince of Wales Stadium, Charlie won 3 Gold Medals with 3 Personal Bests and a World record in those 3 races.
Charlie was doing a Supported Internship course at Cinderford College, and her work Placement was at Goals Beyond Grass, in September 2020. Since then, Charlie has volunteered weekly with us, at many different sessions. At the moment, Charlie helps with our Inclusive Cycling sessions at BlackBridge Athletics Track, which is where she does her frame running training. When our Forest of Dean Inclusive Cycling Sessions are running, Charlie comes along to participate and help out. Charlie also comes to the GL3 Community Hub on a Wednesday Morning to help with our GOGA sessions (Get Out Get Active), then she does some admin work in the office.
‘The best thing about volunteering is meeting and helping new people, whilst also having lots of fun. I really enjoy the inclusive cycling sessions in the forest, the location is amazing’ – Charlie.
