Siblings Alan Goulding and Elaine Carnell find value in volunteering
Siblings Alan Goulding and Elaine Carnell find value in volunteering.
FOR more than 10 years, Alan Goulding and his sister Elaine Carnell have been volunteering at Beckside Residential and Nursing Home.
In their years at the Lincolnshire facility, which is run by the Orders of St John Care Trust, the siblings have clocked up well over 5,500 hours of time devoted to helping others.
“I wanted to give something back,” Alan explains, “after witnessing first-hand the dedication of staff at Beckside when my wife Janet was there, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
“When Janet passed away in 2006, I was so used to the routine of visiting the home that I continued to volunteer there.”
“I began volunteering alongside Alan when he was short of helpers for a bingo game ten years ago,” seventy-four-year-old Elaine adds.
“We’re keen to make a positive contribution to other people’s lives. We live five minutes’ drive from each other, and it gets us out.
“Otherwise we would only be at home doing nothing useful.”
And it’s a busy routine for them both.
“I spend nearly ten hours a week, all year round, at the home,” Alan says.
“I help the Activities Co-ordinator to look after residents by assisting with fund-raising events and ‘reminiscence sessions’, where we discuss memories of times gone by.
“We have bingo, outings in the minibus and ‘new age curling’.
“I even dress up as Father Christmas!”
He and Elaine make a good team.
“My sister and I get along great,” he says. “We are best friends, and often get mistaken for a married couple because we are so close.
“We work very well together.”
The siblings work hard, yet find their service rewarding rather than tiring.
“I enjoy helping people at Beckside so much – and it naturally keeps my energy levels high,” Elaine says.
“Every day has its memories. Receiving my ten-year long-service award was especially memorable for me personally.
“Because I am around the same age as many of the people we befriend, I know what they’re talking about when they speak about the past, and we can really relate to one another.
“I like that, and I like the stories that you hear.”
“Oh, yes,” Alan agrees. “We keep residents who don’t have many visitors company.
“I’m a big Lincoln City fan, and particularly enjoy my chats with a female resident, with whom I’m good friends, who supports the same club.”
The pair have made so many friends among the residents that there are inevitably some sad times, too.
“On receiving the news of a resident’s passing, my initial reaction is, quite naturally, one of sorrow,” Alan says.
“This is followed by a period of reflection where I recall some of the highlights, often of a humorous nature, of my relationship with them.
“This is important especially when trying to come to terms with a bereavement.
“When I’ve known a resident for a long time, I will always try to attend the funeral.”
Alan is full of praise for the support given by the organisation to its volunteers.
He and his sister both love their roles, and would encourage others to explore volunteering for themselves.
“Anyone who has some spare time and would like to help people who may be less fortunate than themselves would find the volunteer role very rewarding,” Elaine says. ■