Hotel Ashburton and Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury Volunteer of the Month - Jocelyn Thomson

Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury offer the Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury and the Hotel Ashburton Volunteer of the Month recognition programme.

Over the next few weeks we will share the stories of some of this year's Volunteer's of the Month beginning today with Jocelyn Thomson.

When asked why she volunteers Jocelyn said “I just do it to give back to my community”

Jocelyn began volunteering with Red Cross when she was in primary school. When her children arrived, she was involved in volunteering in organisations and schools that her children were part of. She volunteered with Plunket both in Allenton and when she moved to Palmerston North.

Eight years ago, Jocelyn signed up to volunteer with Hospice Mid Canterbury. Her roles are varied with Hospice she could be walking a dog, sitting with a someone so a family member can have some time out, taking a client to an appointment or shopping or assisting with catering for a Hospice event or at special times like their Remembrance Service or Christmas. Whatever is needed, Jocelyn is willing to help others as she believes in the mission of Hospice of helping any client, family or care giver who have a life limiting illness so they can get on with living for today.

Another of Jocelyn’s volunteering roles is with Trott’s Garden Charitable Trust as part of the catering team. They cater for functions, bus tours, garden tourns and open days.

As well as working, Jocelyn has a third volunteer role. She is a volunteer with S.E.E.D.S – Sharing Everyday Experiences and Drawing on Skills. Her volunteering involves supporting parents and families of young children. The volunteer works alongside the parents to help them establish routines with the children, around the house, with social activities and assisting them to connect with others. Jocelyn also helps them learn skills like cooking and food preparation. She has enjoyed going to cooking classes with her client as together, side by side they have learned new ideas.

For some clients of S.E.E.D.s the volunteering could involve helping them set goals to work towards or develop skills in time management, for others it could be someone who isn’t family or a professional to have a chat with knowing the S.E.E.D.S volunteer is there to care for them and support them in their journey.

The reward for all Jocelyn’s volunteering is” knowing she has helped someone, brightened their day and given them a lift as well as knowing she has left a little bit behind”. For Jocelyn being able to make a positive difference to someone’s day is why she volunteers and encourages others to do it.

If your organisation would like to nominate a Mid Canterbury volunteer for this - email - manager-midc@vmsc.org.nz for a nomination form.