Steven Hawkins

I’m 44 now and 6 years ago I worked in Norfolk but after a severe head injury I returned to Dunfermline. I think most people think it’d be great to be pensioned but they don’t appreciate there are drawbacks. I had few friends left in the area, I didn’t work so that social network didn’t exist and I live separately from my wife and children.

I’ve found volunteering is a good way to meet other people and feel part of society. Now I volunteer with chest, heart and stroke Scotland and the Volunteer Centre in Dunfermline two mornings a week and a voluntary computing project with Leonard Cheshire is progressing.

The benefits I get are feeling useful and good especially when I’ve done something voluntarily which was an obvious help or especially if I can
benefit someone who seeks help.

Now that sounds a bit trite to me but consider when you gain a driving license, you feel great but it only benefits yourself. When you help an old lady cross the road she feels good and perhaps that old lady’s relatives feel good or grateful by default and so you yourself feel good.