Steve's Story: A Journey of Purpose and Compassion

Steve Acklam shares his volunteering journey.

My entry into the world of volunteering was a little different. The New Labour mantra of Education, Education, Education included a commitment to significantly increase the quality and capability of school governance by recruiting volunteers with transferable business skills to fill the thousands of governor vacancies that existed. The responsibility of school managers was changing and increasing and a governing body with an appropriate skill set to both support and where necessary challenge the headteacher was deemed essential. I was offered the opportunity to establish a charity to drive the recruitment process and over the next twelve years we recruited and placed thousands of governor volunteers on governing bodies in schools across England. One of these volunteers, perhaps unsurprisingly, was me! I am now in my 4^th school, each hugely different in location, size, and character, but all with the aim of giving the children in their care the best possible education and the best possible start in life. I still love the sense that in my own small way, and in partnership with my fellow governors and the school’s senior staff, I am adding value to young people’s lives and futures.

In 2012 my wife began to show signs of Alzheimer’s and I began the long, challenging, heartbreaking and often demoralising task of caring for her and her often quite extraordinary needs and demands. Like many in my situation and who I have spoken across the years I had no option but to take on this responsibility from a standing start and I am certain I made many mistakes. I did not know where to turn for advice or practical assistance, and determined that if ever I had the opportunity I would volunteer with organisations where my own lived experience could help those in a similar situation. I have turned this determination into action and now work alongside Caring Together, The Sun Network, ARU, and Addenbrookes to offer exactly those insights and suggestions that can only be learnt by those directly involved in these extremely challenging situations. I can only hope that my contributions do make a positive difference, and I take confidence in the fact I continue to be invited to participate.

Encouraged by my wife before her illness took hold, I became an active volunteer in my local Methodist Chapel. Over time I undertook responsibility for taking and distributing the minutes of the Church Council; ensuring safeguarding information was both up to date and on display; representing the chapel at Circuit meetings; acting as Senior Steward for each of the chapel and the wider circuit; and more recently managing chapel property related issues as the office holder stepped down owing to ill health. Because we are a small congregation, there is obviously an element of “if I don’t step forward, who will?” behind each of these decisions. At the same time, I have learnt a great deal about all the areas and about my own capabilities and limitations. As with school governance and involvement in caring related opportunities, there has also been the sense of adding value and making a positive difference. For me, this is the volunteering bottom line; a mutually rewarding chance to help others

Thanks to Steve for this powerful story, and for being such a dedicated and active volunteer.