Volunteer finds community at Big Breakfast…

She wouldn’t normally find herself in church, but since lockdown Mandy’s got well and truly stuck in at Above Bar Church’s Big Breakfast…

“I’m Mandy, and I’ve been volunteering at Big Breakfast for 8 weeks now and I love it!  

Before COVID I used to work at the coffee shop at the train station where I served a guy called Mike coffee every day.  He introduced me to his wife Ruth and when lockdown hit they thought of me.  I was so surprised when I got a call from Mike, he’d tracked down my phone number through Head Office at work.  They were worried about me and next thing I know Ruth came to see me!

Ruth came round and after her visit she asked if I’d like to help out with Big Breakfast and their work delivering food to those who needed it in Southampton.  I thought I should give it a go – it got me up, showered and out!  I suffer with mental health problems so it’s really helped me to do something worthwhile instead of just being stuck indoors.

Through Big Breakfast I’ve got to know Sue and Sanjay, and they’ve really understood me.  They’re just so relaxed and easy going, and their easy approach has really helped me.  Over the last 8 weeks I’ve met everyone else too and they’re just so lovely!  I’ve made so many friends and everyone volunteering here is doing so much good.  My family do laugh at me when I say ‘I’m off to church’!  But it’s so great, I’d recommend it to anyone.  

I’m actually quite sad that I’ll have to go back to work one day.  When I do I’ll certainly keep involved at the weekend and in my holidays!  You should get involved if you can!  If I could afford to retire I would in an instant, and do this full time.”

For more information on the work of Big Breakfast, and how you can get involved, visit www.abovebarchurch.org.uk/outreach/big-breakfast

#ThereIsHope