Marie, WSUP’s longest-standing volunteer, shares her experiences.
“I first heard about WSUP in 2012 through someone I met at an AA meeting. I told him I was bored and I wanted to do more to help other people. He was volunteering at WSUP and took me there.
“Originally Greenwich Council funded WSUP but when that ended in 2014 WSUP closed for six months. Four of us volunteers wanted to keep it going and eventually we found a place for it in Woolwich Central Baptist Church. It was hard going. We had a little bit of money left in the bank and we raised money ourselves anyway we could through things like sponsored sleep outs, and the manager and his son ran a marathon.
“We made sandwiches and toasties, and offered services – a laundry, showers and haircuts – the same services we still have now. We were only open on Saturdays back then. After a couple of years we made an arrangement with Pret who donated their leftovers every Friday night. It’s still going now and we also get donations from Greggs and Gail’s. As time went on we got bigger, and got more volunteers and donations of clothes.
“I worked in the kitchen for nine years and now I’m on reception. I get a sense of satisfaction from volunteering at WSUP, knowing there’s always someone I can help. I talk to people about my own experiences of drink and drugs. After 40 years of drinking a neighbour took me to AA and I’ve been sober for nearly 12 years now. My sobriety was tested five years ago when my son died. That was a big test – some oblivion would have been nice. He was my only son, but he would have been ashamed if I’d picked up a drink and that’s what kept me going.
“As a volunteer you talk to people and get to know them, and you get to know if they need help and if they’re willing to accept help. Alcoholics recognise each other. I was laughing about it with another volunteer the other day. We said to each other ‘We’re almost normal aren’t we?’ That’s exactly how we feel – we don’t quite fit in but it’s okay to be a bit different.
“I’m happy here. WSUP saved me. Being a volunteer means I can make someone smile. Working in the kitchen, I’d save someone a pink doughnut because I knew they liked pink doughnuts. I’d go shopping and get things that people liked. You can’t save the whole world but in your little corner you can make people smile and show them that people aren’t all bad. Some of the people that come in here have had to face reality and it’s terrible. Some people come in here and they’re ashamed. I treat everybody the same, it doesn’t matter who you are. I treat everyone with courtesy and have a laugh and joke. Nobody wants to come through the door into WSUP and see scowling faces. They come in and we welcome them. It doesn’t matter what they look like, they’re human beings. We get all different sorts of people coming to WSUP.
“As a volunteer at WSUP you experience good camaraderie and being part of a team. It’s just so rewarding. It doesn’t matter what age you are. We find out what volunteers like to do and what they’re good at, and encourage them. People feel good about themselves when they do something for someone else. You all have the same thing in common, you all want to help. If that rings a bell with anyone they should volunteer.”