The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
A world of possibilities
Members of a Dundee disability group enjoy volunteering at charities across Dundee. Gayle hangs out with the Inclusion Group gang for the week
P early, the black and white kitten is lying spread-eagled on her favourite chair, purring loudly.
She’s being petted by Linda Mitchell, one of her biggest fans.
As a member of the Dundee-based Inclusion Group, Linda, 53, struggles with communication – but she has no trouble bonding with furry felines.
Once a week, accompanied by her carer, Jane Lyttle, Linda visits the Dundee branch of the Cats Protection League where she donates food to the charity and enjoys stroking cats of all shapes and sizes.
“It’s very therapeutic for Linda to come here,” says Jane.
We had a cat with three legs called Mr Peggles here recently and Linda loved him dearly, but she’s very fond of wee Pearly, too.
“She enjoys meeting new cats that come in and spending time with them. And of course, it’s nice for the cats to be given so much attention.”
Like Linda, many members of the Inclusion Group – a charity based in Dundee for people with various disabilities and learning difficulties – enjoy volunteering across the city.
It’s good for their sense of wellbeing and self-worth, plus they learn new things. And ultimately, it sees them giving a lot back to the community.
Billy Rough, learning and engagement officer at HMS Unicorn, tells me Inclusion Group volunteers are super helpful when they show up to clean and maintain the historic ship.
“Volunteers like Dan Mitchell and David Cameron are such an important part of Unicorn’s crew,” he beams.
“We rely heavily on volunteers to keep the Unicorn in ship shape and the boys’ help is so appreciated. It’s great to have them on board and they work incredibly hard.
“We have a number of volunteers from the Inclusion Group who help out around the ship and it’s great to have that relationship.”
It’s a bitterly cold day when I make my way to the Unicorn, Scotland’s oldest historic ship, moored at Dundee’s Victoria Dock.
Inside, David and Dan are hard at work polishing the ship’s bell and mast until they gleam, under the watchful eye of Inclusion Group staff member Garry Coppin.
I offer to lend a hand and they pass me a rag so I can get stuck in.
We then creep down into the ship’s bowels where Garry shows us how to “cheese” huge ropes into coils, in an effort to keep them neat and tidy.
There are plenty of other odd jobs to be done – shifting crates, moving tables and chairs – in order to get the attraction ready for the spring season.
Smiling and chatting away, David, 26, and Dan, 27, are clearly in their element.
“We absolutely love this,” beams David, pointing to a barrel filled with flowers that the duo planted outside the ship last year.
“This is a real highlight of the week and we feel proud to be part of the Unicorn.”
As a result of Garry arranging unique opportunities, Dan and David have done a wide and varied range of volunteering work across Courier Country, including gardening at Cambo Estate in Fife.
Their hard work paid off and they were delighted to win an award from the John Muir Trust last year.
Later in the week, I head to the British Red Cross shop on Dundee’s Reform Street to meet another Inclusion Group member, 63-year-old Linda Sheridan.
She’s a real character, chatting and laughing with staff and customers as she sorts shoes, clothes, books and CDS.
“I find this such great fun,” smiles Linda, passing me a stiletto. “I always look forward to coming to the shop and have a wonderful day out.”
Inclusion Group manager Fiona Flynn says volunteering helps both members and the wider society.
“Volunteering is about demonstrating how their skills and talents benefit the community and those around them,” she explains. “Being seen as a person who is valued for what they can do for others should never be underestimated.”