Health column: how volunteering can support your mental health and well-being

I've been a volunteer for more than 30 years and in that time I've done a bit of everything.

These days, I mainly volunteer at the hospice charity shop in Shevington, but I also help at Remembrance Evenings and other events.

In the past I've volunteered with the Hospice in your Home service, visiting patients in their homes.

After I had my second child, I had puerperal psychosis, a severe mental health condition that can occur following childbirth.

I was admitted to the psychiatric unit at the hospital several times over the next two years, and although eventually I did return to work as an intensive care sister, I had no confidence and eventually I resigned.

Volunteering at Wigan and Leigh Hospice helped me regain my self-esteem and sense of identity.

Having a regular shift gave me a focus and kept me active, which was good for my family and my husband as well as for me.

I felt as though I had a purpose again and something I could do.

I see the same thing happening to other volunteers who come to work at the shop.

Often people come to volunteer after losing a loved one. Volunteering can help them find a renewed sense of purpose and connection.

Volunteering also gives you permission to be completely yourself.

All the volunteers have their own little specialities. Some enjoy operating the till, others prefer putting clothes and items on display or sorting and pricing the donations.

There are lots of different roles, both customer-facing and behind the scenes, so there really is something for everyone!

When I first started, the team was quite small, but over the years I've met so many volunteers.

You get to know people personally as you're chatting and working, and we always make sure that new volunteers settle in and get on with the other people on their shift.

The bond we share has meant that we've become like a family. Complete strangers can become the closest friends and we all do so much to care for one another.

There's a social side to it, too – for example, we recently organised this year's Shevington shop Christmas meal!

You also get to know the regular customers.

There's definitely a community feel to the shops and we have a lot of fun.

For example, every year at Shevington, we organise a fund-raising day in the summer with a raffle and a few games, and everyone in the village supports us.

The mental health challenges I experienced gave me a greater understanding of mental health than I had when I was a nurse.

It wasn't an easy journey, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Volunteering for the hospice was a big part of that journey.

It helped restore my self-worth and confidence, and along the way I've made so many wonderful friends.

The hospice has given me more than I could ever repay, and after more than 30 years, I'm still getting so much out of being involved.

Gill's experience is a reminder that volunteering isn't just about what we give to others, it can also bring purpose, friendship and a sense of belonging to our own lives.

If you'd like to find out more about volunteering for Wigan and Leigh Hospice, email [email protected]