I've often thought that to make a change to the world around us took a special kind of individual; someone who had skills that I possibly didn't possess. However, when I met two people who have made a real difference to local people’s lives I was surprised to find out the main skill was taking action rather than just thinking about it. Elizabeth Shenton Elizabeth Shenton is a councillor with the Newcastle Borough Council, before that she has been a Police Cell Visitor, taken in abandoned cats for the Cats Protection Group, and has been a leader in regenerating the Lyme Valley. Elizabeth started her voluntary work when she was still at junior school. After seeing a piece on the news regarding the Ethiopian famine the next day she spoke to her headmaster about collecting milk bottle tops to raise money for famine relief. He consented and for a long time after she spent her lunchtimes washing milk bottle tops. When I spoke to her she explained to me about why she got involved in voluntary work, and what her motivation was. Her responses are on the attached audio piece I have compiled. Mike Wolfe Mike came to most people’s attention when he became Stoke’s first elected mayor. However, before this he had spent many years helping hundreds of local people through his work at the CAB. This was where I became aware of Mike’s commitment to helping people as he helped people affected by hardship following the local mine closures. This was definitely not a 9 to 5 job as Mike was always available to whatever he could to help people back on their feet. A lasting testament to his hard work is the new CAB building in Hanley. Whilst bricks and mortar may not seem to represent work that helps people, the new building symbolises the important help that the CAB have provided and continue to provide for the people of the city. But what encouraged Mike to give his time so freely to help people, something he still does to this day. Listen to my audio piece to find out more. After listening to my audio I think you'll agree with me that to make things happen we don't always need to wait for somebody else to do something, someone with something different than we possess. Maybe the right person to make the change is you. | 
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