Margaret opens up about her journey to becoming a TALKWORKS volunteer

As part of Volunteers Week 2025, we are celebrating the work of our wonderful TALKWORKS volunteers. From helping out at local events to assisting with therapy-related activities, our volunteers take on a wide range of tasks that make a real difference to both our staff and the people who use our service.

We recently spoke to Margaret, one of our longest standing volunteers, who shared her reasons for becoming a volunteer and why she enjoys being part of TALKWORKS.

“For over 30 years I worked in administration at a small college of higher education in Devon specialising in the arts. During that time I helped students and their families from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. I particularly enjoyed organising the graduation ceremony and after retiring, along with my husband, did casual work at ceremonies around the country for the company who supplied photography and gowning services for the college. But, this all changed in January 2023 when I lost my husband. There was little graduation work due to a change in company policy to use locally based staff, and I missed seeing colleagues. There were days when I lacked motivation, sat on the sofa and cried and facing up to clearing the house difficult.

“Although my family are very supportive they too were dealing with their loss, so finally, at the end of 2023, encouraged by my grandson who is a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), I referred myself to TALKWORKS. This was a turning point. At the end of my last session I was asked by my therapist if I had thought about volunteering, which I hadn’t. The impact of using the service and the compassion shown made me want to know more. I took a leaflet and asked my grandson ‘what do you think’, his answer was ‘go for it’. So, with my background and skills I thought why not. It would be a way I could give back to the service I had benefited from and the local community. I became a volunteer in May 2024 and in August registered as an Expert by Experience. Some of the tasks and events I have been involved in are recruitment, interviewing, marketing, presentations, the Devon Ukrainian Community Open Day in Totnes and Torbay Armed Forces Day on Paignton Green.

“There is something special about volunteering for Devon Partnership NHS Trust, being a volunteer for TALKWORKS is being part of a family, it is one of the best things I have done. I am passionate about spreading the word and take every opportunity to talk about my volunteering. On the way back from the Celebration Day in Exeter in December, I asked a passenger at Exeter St David’s if I was on the right platform for my train back to Newton Abbot and we continued chatting all the way back to Teignmouth. Of course volunteering came up in conversation. I regularly go to a coffee morning once a month for bereaved families. At the last one I was speaking to someone whose husband collapsed without any warning and sadly didn’t survive. They are new to the area, on their own with no family nearby.

“I enjoy all aspects of volunteering, and at the beginning of April had my first meeting to support a client on a one-to-one basis. I am very proud to be a TALKWORKS volunteer and look forward to being involved in more individual client support work in the future.”

You can read more about volunteering and the different ways you can get involved on the volunteering page of our website.