DAVID BRODIE

MATURE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2005

David Brodie, 53 and the winner of this year’s Fife Mature Volunteer of the Year award, has been a full time volunteer with Furniture Plus in Dysart, Kirkcaldy for the past 3 years. He also volunteers for a few hours each week at Homes 4 Good in Methil.

Furniture Plus provides goods and furnishings at low prices to those who could not otherwise afford them. Good quality furnishings are donated by the public to be recycled and reused. Furniture Plus also provides worthwhile training and job and volunteer opportunities to the community.

At first David was involved with the collections on the van and heaving lifting in the warehouse, nowadays he is training the new recruits, showing them what to do and teaching them selling skills for when the public come in to purchase the goods. All proceeds from these sales are ploughed back into sustaining the organisation. David has taken many a new-start who are facing various personal issues under his wing and helped to built up their confidence by teaching them new skills.

Previously David was in a job he’d been doing for 30 years since he’d left school. He worked for Wemys Brickwork 7 days a week – it was his whole life. Unfortunately, the business closed down making him redundant. He squandered the meagre redundancy payment he received and sat about in his house doing nothing day in day out. All of his friends were working and so his social life dwindled away. David ended up with a drinking problem which led to him loosing his house. For a short time, he was walking the streets, homeless – he had nothing.

His life began to change when he went to Cornerstone (now Homes 4 Good) to ask for help. Pride had prevented him from telling any of his friends about his situation.

Cornerstone was very supportive and encouraging and helped him to start rebuilding his life. He helped them out with their project doing various practicaltasks including decorating. The Support Worker at Cornerstone suggested that David try volunteering to build his confidence, self-esteem and give him something meaningful to do – they recommended Furniture Plus.

David says:

“Volunteering helped me to turn my life around. It gave me routine to my week and something to get up for in the mornings. I was very shy when I first came here – not any more! One of the things I really enjoy is the banter you get with the customers when they come in. We are helping lots of people and it makes you feel good.

Winning the Fife Mature Volunteer of the Year means a lot to me – it’s a huge achievement. I feel like I have come so far in the last three years, my life has completely changed. You get a lot of respect when are doing this sort of thing. People really appreciate what you do.”