‘Get involved in the community'

Outdoor enthusiast Helen Harrison has managed to combine a love of walking with helping to clean up her local green spaces

After living abroad most of her life, Helen Harrison returned home to the UK in her late 40s with no home, no job and no immediate social circle. Being single, the former nurse and nanny knew putting down roots would be challenging after spending 15 years in America, but faced it head on.

“It’s easier to start again somewhere if you have family,” says Helen who emigrated to Australia with her family aged 11 and has travelled worldwide since then.

“When you’re single and you have no children it’s more difficult to get accepted. It takes more time and energy.”

After buying a house in her native North West and finding a part-time job as a supermarket checkout operator, she headed to her local library for some inspiration.

“I am not a church person so it was the best place to start to get involved in the community,” she says.

An outdoor-lover, Helen gravitated towards volunteering roles that would improve her new environment.

Two decades on, she’s now 68, retired, and a well-known face on her

‘I’m passionate about the environment’

local green and walking scene. As well as doing a weekly voluntary shift in the tourist information centre of a local beauty spot, she helps tidy up the countryside once a month.

As walk secretary of Bolton CHA Rambling Club, she organises and leads regular rural walks. And since becoming involved with the Horwich Clean Up Brigade, she litter-picks weekly.

“It probably sounds a lot but, really, volunteering is a social activity for me. I love being around positive, caring people. I’m passionate about the environment and I love walking so it’s all fun!”

■ facebook.com/ horwich cleanupbrigade

will usually be visiting patients in their home and support may include helping with simple practical tasks. In each case, support is usually provided for 12 weeks.

■ Visit macmillan.org.uk

■ We’d love to hear about any volunteering projects you take part in or support. Mark your envelope ‘Yours Community’