I've been volunteering with Combat Stress since 1998 then the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society. My Father, Dr Erik Cummings (Ex-Army - Royal Engineers) died in 1997 and our family decided for donations after his funeral should go to the charity. We then did a guided walk around Hampstead Garden Suburb (where I use to live) and gradually started doing fundraising events locally - the first being a 'coffee and rummage' sale in our kitchen!
I decided to begin volunteering as both my late parents were veterans - Mum was a Wren at Bletchley Park (Hut 8 - Japanese codes) but she never spoke about and like many of his generation Dad didn't say much about his wartime service in the Army either. He joined the Royal Engineers in 1940 straight from school and was involved in the battle at Monte Cassino, was injured in Greece while with the British Military Mission and then returned home to train to be a Doctor. They both knew about and supported the charity.
I also wanted to volunteer due to a situation I had when I was working for a partnership of stockbrokers in the City in the 1990s. I interviewed an ex-serviceman who had just left the Army after many years and he seemed uneasy, nervous at sudden noises and bewildered and anxious about civilian life. We offered him a job but regretfully after 2 days he didn't turn up. We were very concerned about his welfare but were unable to find him at his address. I realised that perhaps his time in the Forces had affected him but I didn't know about PTSD, so regretfully I wasn't able to help him. I needed to find out more and to offer my help by volunteering.
I’ve really enjoyed my time volunteering with Combat Stress - Meeting people from all walks of life wanting to help to support our Veterans. Realising how much you can achieve when supported by a group of wonderful friends (Hampstead Garden Suburb Combat Stress Committee) and a fantastic army (excuse the pun!) of volunteers who generously gave up their time freely. My volunteering experience would have been very different and wouldn’t have been a success without the unerring support of my lovely friends on the HGS Combat Stress Committee.
Their enthusiasm, patience and humour is inspiring from baking hundreds of cakes, making preserves, preparing thousands of cups of tea, setting up stalls in the pouring rain, selling thousands of items at our annual fairs and clearing up at the end - all with a smile and as the years went on a few sore muscles!
One of the benefits of volunteering is you’re never alone. Being part of the CS team and learning how to work as part of a team. Realising there are so many different ways you can volunteer and how rewarding it can be. Developing the confidence to approach organisations and individuals you don't know for their help and support. The satisfaction you feel when an event goes to plan (not all the time!) and you can see the volunteers are having a good time. Learning some mad ideas are fine in theory but not in practice - e.g. a dog show in an urban setting!
The dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers is infectious and spurs you on to do other things/events.
Over the years we've been donated a wonderful selection of items including a car boot of wine and champagne! Two young men turned up in a sports car after we'd just done a charity sale in our drive. It did feel a bit like Fools and Horses but after further investigation we discovered it was from a legitimate local source!
For me the most enjoyable and memorable event we organised was in 2019 - the Combat Stress Centenary Concert with the North London Military Wives Choir and the Royal Naval Volunteer Band - Northwood HQ. The choir and the volunteer band hadn't been able to rehearse together beforehand but the concert was a great success and the Free Church (local church) was absolutely full. It was an absolutely amazing local community event and everyone said how much they'd enjoyed it. None of this would have happened without the amazing support from the choir and the band and our wonderful team of volunteers helping to ensure everything ran smoothly.
I would really recommend volunteering with Combat Stress. I know this sounds like a cliche but as CS is a relatively small military charity you get to know other volunteers and the staff pretty quickly and you know that whatever volunteer role you do will help raise awareness and badly needed funds.
If you’re thinking about volunteering, do some research to see what different charities there are and the sort of volunteering roles they offer. It's so important to enjoy volunteering but also it's good to perhaps do something outside your comfort zone, to challenge yourself. It can be daunting - for me it's public speaking (still is) but sometimes you just have to give it a go and you'll surprise yourself. As I said before, you're never alone when you volunteer - you'll meet other people, have fun, learn new skills (sadly I still can't bake - my cakes are always the last on the cake stall) make new friends and make a really meaningful contribution to the charity. So why not give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
