When Naomi, 34, a Marketing Manager at Lancaster University found out about Lancashire Volunteer Partnership (LVP) supporting the NHS run Covid Vaccination Programme, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer. Always volunteering to support friends and family, it is simply in her nature to help, and can never do enough for those around her. That’s why applying to be a Covid Vaccination Centre Marshal was the perfect option to enable her to keep helping people, but also supporting her local community in a time of great need.
Originally living in Lancaster, she moved to Kendal two years ago and didn’t have many connections within the local community. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Naomi had a very active lifestyle, playing netball for Lancastrians and Lancaster Lions, going to the gym, and meeting up with friends in between planning a fairytale wedding which has now been rescheduled due to the pandemic. Just like many other people, social activities stopped overnight, and this is where Naomi felt that she could help within the local community.
“I wanted to help out with the pandemic, so thought that volunteering with LVP would fit both (my interests). Obviously helping with the pandemic and getting to know the community that I have become a part of.”
Following a successful application and completing all the required training modules, she was ready to hit the shopping centre, but not quite what you think. She currently volunteers at Westmorland Shopping Centre in Kendal and loves it. Naomi was very nervous at the beginning, not knowing what to expect and not knowing people, she quickly settled in and now volunteers once a week, also working full-time. Having supportive, friendly, and approachable people around her made settling in so much easier and made her volunteering even more enjoyable than she originally thought. When we asked if she’d recommend volunteering, she responded:
“Definitely. I have already sent the links out to one of my friends who are interested in volunteering as well. They didn’t realise that they could join it so easily, just as I have done. I have also mentioned the benefits of it being quite rewarding and it’s a nice shift to do too. It’s a nice simple four hours that otherwise would be stuck doing nothing.”
If you are interested in volunteering or want to find out more, take a look at current opportunities on our website here, or find out more about being a Covid Vaccination Centre Marshal by clicking here.
