Volunteer celebrates 1,600 hours at lunch club

3 hours ago

Alice Cullinanein Birmingham

Dorothy Schofield has volunteered at Shenley Lunch Club for eight years

BBC A woman with short blonde hair is wearing a white and black shirt and an apron. She is standing in front of a kitchen. — Dorothy Schofield has volunteered at Shenley Lunch Club for eight years

When Dorothy Schofield retired after working all her life, she found herself feeling lost, without the structure of a job to fill her days.

The 78-year-old was inspired to start volunteering at Shenley Lunch Club, Birmingham, in 2018, after a friend suggested the idea to give her something to get involved with during the week.

Eight years later, she has clocked up more than 1,600 volunteering hours, helping with tasks like serving food and drinks and setting up tables at Shenley Court Hall every Monday and Wednesday.

"I come here two days a week and it gives you structure, something to look forward to, working as a team," she said.

Schofield was a home carer for Birmingham City Council for more than two decades before her retirement and said volunteering at the club was the "same environment, still caring for people but in a different regime".

"You get to know everyone - who doesn't have carrots, who doesn't have gravy, who likes coffee, who brings their own," she said.

Dorothy Schofield, also known as Dot, helps run the club each week with other volunteers

Bournville Village Trust Three women are standing next to a metal table with plates of potatoes, peas, carrots and gravy. They are standing in a village hall with tables and chairs laid out. — Dorothy Schofield, also known as Dot, helps run the club each week with other volunteers

The club, run by Bournville Village Trust, includes a home cooked, two course meal for £7.50 per person, with activities like bingo beforehand.

Schofield said she volunteered because it made her feel good, working with "lovely" people in a nice environment and helping do the dinners each week.

"I volunteer here because I can and I like it, I've never thought about all the hours because I enjoy coming here," she added.

Jane Young said coming to the lunch club broke up her week

A woman with short hair is wearing black framed glasses and is wearing a white shirt and a black blazer. She is sitting at a table with a green gingham tablecloth and other people sitting around. — Jane Young said coming to the lunch club broke up her week

Lunch club attendee Jane Young praised Schofield for her work, saying that it was "nice to see things done good and its for our benefit".

"They do a good lunch, teas, coffees - no gin but you can't have everything, can you," she joked.

Young said the majority of people at the club did not cook meals like they used to, so coming each week gave them with fresh food and company.

"It saves sitting in the house on your own, looking at the walls. It gives you something to get up and get ready for," she said.

Carolyn Pritchard and Mel Busby have been coming to the club for more than six years

Two women are sitting on a green gingham table clothed table and are drinking coffee. They are sitting in a community hall with stacked tables behind them. — Carolyn Pritchard and Mel Busby have been coming to the club for more than six years

Carolyn Pritchard and Mel Busby started coming to the club more than six years ago and liked that it gave them a reason to get out of the house and meet people.

"I live on my own and it's nice to have a meal midweek, shared with other people in the same position as myself," Pritchard said.

Bushby added that she came to the club with her late husband and continued to come now, to socialise with the friends she had made.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.