Volunteer Story - Sue Fuller

Sue receiving her award for volunteering at Woolwich Town Hall

A retired Woolwich resident, Sue Fuller remembers just how vulnerable she felt when she first came into GCDA's community hub Woolwich Front Room back in 2023. “My third time, I just burst into tears,” Sue recalls, “but the staff were just so lovely. I’d become very isolated during Covid and my mental health wasn't good,”

Sue with some of her incredible creations

Sue’s supreme craft talents were soon spotted, and she started off by running a weekly knit and natter group.

Then she surprised herself by passing the food hygiene qualification which meant she could volunteer in the café too.

“Volunteering has made a real difference to my life,” says Sue.“It’s given me a purpose, I’ve made new friends and I’m there to listen to others too. Now I’m mentoring new volunteers. You’re never too old to do something like this. At 69 I’ve got a lot of life experience, and that’s a really valuable quality to bring to the table.”

Sue received formal recognition for her contribution to the community at the Royal Greenwich Civic Awards at Woolwich Town Hall earlier this year. She is a valued member of the Woolwich Front Room team, and GCDA is incredibly proud of her.

 And speaking of volunteers...did you know that Woolwich Front Room volunteers have contributed 3360 hours of work since April last year? At the Living Wage, this equates to about £47,000. What an incredible gift.

If you're interested in finding out more about volunteering with GCDA please email haley@gcda.org.uk