Joanna's story

When Jaki first moved to Somerset in 2022, she was looking for a fresh start. Having spent most of her life caring for others, she hadn’t had the space to look after her own mental wellbeing. After joining a Health and Wellbeing Workshop at Ark at Egwood , Jaki realised just how lonely she’d become and how much she’d been masking her emotions. To break that cycle and to find out who she was again, Jaki became a volunteer with the charity – a place where she felt it was okay to not be okay. "I’ve progressed from a Therapeutic Volunteer to a Peer Champion, Mentor, and Co‑Facilitator, and my role keeps growing as new opportunities come up," she explains. "I support people one‑to‑one and in group sessions, and co‑facilitate the Live Well With Pain 11‑week workshop, drawing on my training and lived experience. "I recently spoke at a Live Well with Pain conference, sharing my journey and the value of peer support. It’s at the heart of everything I do, creating a space where people feel heard, understood, and able to engage at their own pace. "As someone with lived experience, I bring a peer perspective that helps create a safe, supportive environment for others. My involvement also helps demonstrate the value of peer-led support and recovery journeys. "Volunteering has helped rebuild my confidence and sense of identity. I didn’t expect how much I would grow from feeling anxious and overwhelmed to co-facilitating groups and speaking at events. It has reduced my isolation, given me purpose, and helped me understand myself better." Jon Richards, Armed Forces Lead for the charity, says Jaki is the voice of lived experience within the session facilitation team. He continues: “The feedback we have had from each of the workshops she’s led has included comments about how people who live with persistent pain have found themselves again, reporting both improved mental health and more confidence in managing their lives and chronic conditions.” Since joining Ark at Egwood, Jaki has gone from feeling like she’s lost herself to slowly rediscovering who she is: "I’ve built meaningful relationships, developed new skills, and taken opportunities I never imagined I’d be capable of. "I would recommend volunteering because it can be a powerful step in your own recovery and personal development. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m passionate about helping others see that they are capable, too." Want to help make a difference where you live? Find the opportunity for you below.

We’re looking ahead to one of the key moments in the volunteering calendar — Volunteers’ Week 2026. This year’s celebrations run from Monday 1 to Sunday 7 June and offer a chance to recognise the spirit of volunteering and thank the people who give their time to support our communities. If you’d like to shine a spotlight on a volunteer by sharing their fantastic contribution, we’d love to hear their stories. We’re particularly keen to highlight people who have overcome barriers to get involved, like Ryley, Cole or Beki who we’ve featured previously. Get in touch if you have a story you would like to share. You can also thank your existing volunteers and encourage others to give their time by: Completing and sharing our downloadable certificate with your volunteers Adding your current opportunities to the platform Sharing your stories on social media using the #VolunteersWeek and #VolunteerInSomerset hashtags Hosting a Big Lunch for your volunteers and community Discover more ways to celebrate on the Volunteers’ Week website .

Q volunteers at the Spark iT Digital Café at the Waffle Hub in Burnham-on-Sea, bringing his professional expertise from his previous role as an employee of EE. Since April 2024, he's supported 748 people with everything from account recovery to price comparison, but for Q, it's about far more than technical fixes. "When I first came to Spark Somerset, I'd been out of work for three years. I was experiencing fear of failure," Q remembers. "Spark just asked me to give them an hour, and it built my confidence. I got out of the house, which I hadn’t done in three weeks." Now Q runs the café his way, understanding that digital support is about catering to individual needs. "One of the most important skills I have is listening. Sometimes I'm the only person they might speak to. Lots of my regulars come back to tell me how something has worked. I call it digital dignity, but it's really more about dignity." Through a partnership with Vodafone, Q provides SIM cards to people struggling with expensive pay-as-you-go contracts. He recommends free services like WhatsApp for communication and helps people find safe Wi-Fi access points, crucial for people without home broadband. But for him, volunteering isn't just about helping others; it's been life changing for his own mental health and sense of belonging. "Every day I come here, I feel appreciated. My clients appreciate me. I enjoy solving problems and I do a jig when I get things to work. Volunteering has given me confidence and that helped my mental health. I really feel part of my community." If you would like to volunteer as a Digital Champion like Q, visit the link below.