‘It’s been the best possible therapy for me’
Margaret McCadden overcame her grief thanks to National Lottery-funded project
When her husband and best friend both died within six weeks of each other, Margaret McCadden was left with a huge void in her life.
Margaret, a retired hospital technician, had barely got over the death of her friend and neighbour Trish Leah in 2016, when Phil, her husband of 24 years, died suddenly at their home in Crumpsall.
The couple were in the garden, having a cup of tea together when Phil, 64, collapsed.
“I knew he was gone before he even hit the f loor,” recalls Margaret.
Coming so soon after losing Trish, Margaret needed treatment for depression as well as grief counselling, but she says it was her voluntary work that’s helped her the most.
“It’s been the best possible therapy,” says Margaret, 67, who until the pandemic hit was doing 10 hours’ voluntary work a week at Manchester Mu s e u m . “I ’d recommend volunteering to anybody who finds them selves feeling lonely and in need of something to keep them occupied.”
Having registered for volunteer work through Manchester City Council, one of her first jobs was beekeeping on the flat roof of Manchester Cathedral. She also acted as a steward at the Manchester Ceno taph, providing information and guid ance for visitors.
But what has given Margaret the greatest joy is her role at the National Lotterysupported Manchester Museum. There she looks after the Vivarium, allowing visitors to take a closer look at reptiles, frogs and snakes on display.
With no children of her own, Margaret lives alone with only her rescue dog, Spike, for company, and she is very keen for lockdown to end so that she can get back to the museum. “My volunteer work has been a lifeline for me,” she says.
And while you may not know it, by playing The National Lottery you’re helping to raise £30million* every week for good causes like this, as well as in other communities across the UK.
‘I’d recommend volunteering to anyone who finds themselves feeling lonely’