40 Faces of Brendoncare – Sharon Green

Sharon joined Brendoncare’s Saturday Club as a volunteer in 2018. During the pandemic, she supported Andover members with telephone calls then moved to become an in-person club helper.

However, Sharon found her joy when she was invited to train as a chair-based exercise volunteer in 2021 as part of the IMPACT pilot. This was a joint pilot between Southampton University and Brendoncare. It’s a role she absolutely loves.

She explains: “Brendoncare asked me if I wanted to do gentle seated exercises. My confidence was low at the time, so I did it and it completely changed my confidence levels.”

Sharon jokes: “I do wonder what I would think if I had an instructor who looked like me as I have two replacement knees and a fused wrist! But that means we are all in the same boat and we can laugh with each other.”

Exercise class:

Sharon’s most distinguished exercise class club member was Brendoncare’s Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, who visited Romsey’s Good Companions Club in November 2022.

She recalls what happened next: “It was brilliant. She was sitting opposite me; the Mayor of Test Valley was next to me and there were secret police all over the place.

“One of the exercises is bottom squeezes but I told the group, we are now going to squeeze our bums. I thought, oh no, I have just said ‘bum’ in front of Sophie! But I continued. Since then, my confidence has got me to where I am now.”

Bubble:

“I absolutely love what I am doing. Coming to our clubs I describe as being in a big balloon or bubble. We leave our bags outside and for two hours, we are us. As well as having an enjoyable time during which we chat and talk, we don’t have to worry about anything because we can have a laugh. Also, we are meeting people and making friends. Then you pick your bag up and go home.”

Sharon is currently a regular volunteer at both Andover clubs and at Romsey’s Good Companions.

For her, being a volunteer is the best thing in the world.

“I wouldn’t drive all the way to Romsey if I didn’t want to do it. I am probably doing it for my own selfish reasons.

“But I just love volunteering because it is my decision to do it. Seeing everybody is a reason to come out and do something.

“When I look back at what happened during Covid, I felt really low, believing that nobody needed or wanted me, and I wondered what was the point? Then when I was asked to do the exercises, I realised somebody needed me and I could be of some use. I am so grateful to my Clubs Support Lorraine Annetts for believing in me.”

For her volunteer work in the town, Sharon and fellow volunteer Joan Walker received highly commended certificates in the 2022 Pride of Andover Awards’ Community Champion category.