YOUR VOLUNTEER
Geoff Fish.
Organisation:
Maundy Relief Counselling Service.
How did you enter this role?:
I became a volunteer. I first joined as a trainee counsellor but liked the variety of ‘clients’ I was able to see and stayed.
What are you responsible for?:
Current projects. I mainly offer anger management but take on an adult client from time to time.
What do you most enjoy about this role?:
Seeing clients benefit from the service we offer.
What is your favourite place in Accrington?:
As I am not from this area, I am tempted to say the road out. I’m joking. When I get the time (not often), I quite like sitting in the Market Hall just peoplewatching but please, get rid of the music.
Ideally how would you spend every day?:
Enjoying a leisurely breakfast in a five star hotel, lying on a remote beach in tropical paradise and spending the evening enjoying a great meal and listening to my favourite live music surrounded by a group of friends.
What is the best holiday you’ve been on?:
I don’t really have a favourite. I try to enjoy every holiday I go on. However, I do think you always tend to think holidays were more enjoyable when you were a child. Maybe because you didn’t have responsibilities then.
If money were no object what would you do?:
I would travel continuously. Staying longer in those places I felt most comfortably in. I would also give people I met, who were struggling, a little help but anonymously.
What one piece of advice would you give?:
Respond to every opportunity that is presented to you. Never look back with regret. You can never predict what the future will hold and circumstances may eventually prevent you from doing what you wish.
What was your first job?:
I worked as a chemist in a chemical manufacturing company.
What is on your MP3 player?:
I like a variety of music. However, for my sins, I have been connected with the folk scene for many years. So a great deal is folk music.
What is your favourite TV show?:
The news.
What are you reading at the moment?:
When I have time, I enjoy Bernard Cornwell. Just finished ‘The Empty Throne’.
Who would you like to invite to dinner?:
I’d like to invite Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. I have a little dish which is heavy on mushrooms but I would be very tempted to substitute a certain variety of toadstool in order to do everyone else a favour. Needless to say I would have to explain that I am allergic to mushrooms.
What can we do to help or get involved?:
We need volunteers to help with admin, advice, support and befriending. We can provide training and will support you.
Here is a bit more about what we do:
Maundy Relief Trust was founded in 1998 by three residents of Hyndburn as a response to the poverty that they witnessed in their local community. They saw families being unable to feed themselves and homeless people having nowhere to go, often being turned away by services or shunned by society and treated with little respect. The organisation was founded on the belief that an immediate response to need could make a difference. In the early days, hot food and emotional support was provided for people in crisis. We still offer a hot lunch six days a week and there is always someone available to listen. Maundy Relief has grown to be an important social service provider across East Lancashire. We aim to improve life chances of people and encourage self-reliance and self-confidence.