‘Helping at Grenfell changed my life’

A year on from the Grenfell Tower fire that tragically took 71 lives, Elaine Meakin, pictured below, recalls the profound effect helping people caught in the tragedy had on her personally. “I’d been a member of staff at the Red Cross for a month when an email went around the office asking for volunteers to help at Grenfell. While I’d normally never do anything so out of my comfort zone, I’d been watching the events of Grenfell unfold on the news and there was something in me that made me want to help.

“Seeing Grenfell Tower for the first time was horrendous and I was incredibly moved by the tributes and messages about missing people around the area. My job was to volunteer shortly afterwards at a local centre for people caught in the tragedy, welcoming them and signposting to the organisations who could provide help with counselling, food and financial support. “We were sitting down with people, comforting them and just being a friendly face. Many people were understandably distraught while others were angry and we were there to listen. I felt so proud to help, especially as I’d never done anything like this before. I just showed kindness and empathy which is something everyone can do.

“This experience made me much more confident as I realised I could actually help and be involved. I’ve made a lot of changes to my life since Grenfell, including signing up as a Red Cross community reserve volunteer to step in if there’s a disaster, such as a large flood or fire, in my area.”

‘I just showed kindness and empathy which is something everyone can do’