00:00:00:00 - 00:00:19:19 Speaker 1 You're listening to the ripple Effect here on Echo Wood Radio. I hope you had a wonderful day. Now, have you ever wondered what it's like to be a volunteer for some of the biggest events in the great region? Or have we simply wondered how some of those volunteers ended up doing what they do and loving it? Well, I'm joined here now in the Echo Studio by two of those members, Maureen Livermore and Mel G. 00:00:19:20 - 00:00:20:20 Speaker 2 Welcome both. Oh. 00:00:20:20 - 00:00:26:23 Speaker 1 Thank you. Thank you. So, Maureen, tell me, what is the Volunteers Collective? Where did it come from and how did you get involved? 00:00:27:02 - 00:00:47:22 Speaker 2 Okay, the volunteer collective came from the after of the Commonwealth Games. So I started off volunteering for the opening and closing of the Commonwealth Games. And I was actually one of the ball chain women that pulled in the iconic ball into the stadium that we now call Aussie. Yes. And that's based at Grand Central Station. 00:00:47:22 - 00:00:49:18 Speaker 1 And what was that experience like? Maureen? 00:00:49:18 - 00:01:15:00 Speaker 2 So I can tell you, it was an incredible experience. And it basically came from to portray, the chain makers back in the days, where we were fighting for equal rights, for pay. So that's where the theme all came from. So it's good to have that understanding as to why us as train makers were pulling in that iconic ball into the stadium. 00:01:15:06 - 00:01:16:18 Speaker 2 So there was a story behind it. 00:01:16:20 - 00:01:21:16 Speaker 1 Yes. No, I totally remember. I also remember you carrying that really heavy chain. How heavy was that chain? 00:01:21:17 - 00:01:44:07 Speaker 2 Extremely sorry. It wasn't, we did a lot of practicing, back at, Long Beach where we were pulling, displaying and showing how to act, to pull in. But it wasn't that if it wasn't that heavy, then when we came to the stadium, that was for the first time where we saw the iconic ball. 00:01:44:12 - 00:01:51:06 Speaker 1 Oh, fantastic. So you pulled the ball into the stadium for those great games since then, how have you kept activity volunteering? 00:01:51:08 - 00:02:12:01 Speaker 2 Well, I always wanted to give back to Birmingham because I thought it was important. My job, I'm actually an accountant, and I always just wanted to have the opportunity to give back to the community. So doing the Commonwealth Games gave me that opportunity and I wanted to continue it. So it wasn't just sort of doing it for a period. 00:02:12:03 - 00:02:27:00 Speaker 2 I want it to continue. So, volunteer Collective was part of the legacy from the Commonwealth Games, and I signed up to that because that would give me the opportunity to continue my volunteering and to give back. That's really important. 00:02:27:01 - 00:02:31:04 Speaker 1 Absolutely. It is now. Now, how did you get into volunteering? What's your story? 00:02:31:08 - 00:03:03:23 Speaker 3 Well, I didn't actually realize. I've been volunteering for a lot longer than when I thought my journey started because, 39 years ago, I started volunteering at, my bowls club. Rochelle, aber. Rochelle bowls club. Sorry. Now we are, And I never saw it that way. So I always thought my official volunteer journey started when I got to do the interviews for the volunteer group, the collective for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. 00:03:04:00 - 00:03:31:16 Speaker 3 Sort of fell into that, because I'd put that I've got experience of doing interviews through work. But I was so when I got the role, I was really, really chuffed and so got to meet so many fantastic people. And also obviously had to be interviewed myself. But yes. So it started from there with doing the interviews at the Uni of Birmingham Library and it was it went from there. 00:03:31:17 - 00:03:35:08 Speaker 1 Wonderful. And since then, what has volunteering meant to you? 00:03:35:10 - 00:04:02:09 Speaker 3 Oh, gosh. It's just the best feeling. You're doing something for nothing. You're giving back. And it's good to do that. I love to do it. And you can't explain to somebody. People say friends say people who know me really well. They always ask me, why do you volunteer? You do it for nothing. You're not getting paid well. 00:04:02:11 - 00:04:31:07 Speaker 3 Life isn't always about money. And I've had some hard times in recent years. And the feeling it keeps me in my heart is worth more than any money you could ever give me. And I would say to anybody who does who. So I don't know if it's for me. Just try it. Because what you get back is way, way, way more than you ever put. 00:04:31:07 - 00:04:36:00 Speaker 1 In such a great outlook on volunteering. Absolutely. Maureen, what do you get out of volunteering? 00:04:36:03 - 00:05:09:23 Speaker 2 Interacting with different people that I would not normally interact with. Don't forget, my base is finance. So you're in an office where I can be on a computer. So this gives me the opportunity to meet new people to meet people from different diversity, and also to be included. I've done a couple of volunteering with the volunteer collective, and I choose my volunteering to specifically to do something completely different. 00:05:10:00 - 00:05:39:14 Speaker 2 So, for example, when I did the, the England sports at the, at the stadium, I specifically went for the Midlands Mencap, cycling and that was children who had disabilities. I'm giving them the opportunity to be included, and to be part of that is so important. And to see the joy on their faces give me that warmth and joy. 00:05:39:16 - 00:06:11:10 Speaker 2 To be volunteering. I then went on and did another volunteering, which was the the disability festival, and that was based over at BCU. Once again, you saw the talents, of people that you wouldn't normally see and you were being part of that. So it was an eye opening for myself. And these are the type of things, that I enjoy doing is to give back and to see the joy on people's faces that they're included, because everyone deserves an opportunity. 00:06:11:12 - 00:06:21:10 Speaker 1 Now we've learned that Maureen is an accountant by day. Now, there's a bit more to your story, isn't there? Would you mind telling us what your role is, and how has your story turned you to volunteering from there? 00:06:21:12 - 00:06:53:20 Speaker 3 Right. So, I got given the role of my dreams. I was a head teacher and teacher in Sandwell for my whole 35 year teaching career, and I got given a role within the Games Family Services team at Sandwell Aquatics Center and I was so, so proud to be there. However, unfortunately, the week before the games started, we found two weeks. 00:06:54:00 - 00:06:57:13 Speaker 3 We found out that my husband had got pancreatic cancer. 00:06:57:15 - 00:06:58:12 Speaker 1 Sorry to hear that. 00:06:58:14 - 00:07:18:18 Speaker 3 And my immediate reaction was, I'm not doing it. I need to be there for you. But Mark steadied me down and said, look, love, I'm not having anything. I'm going nowhere. I've got an operation in September. You've worked so hard for this. I want you to go and I want you to enjoy yourself and share with Show the World. 00:07:18:18 - 00:07:54:06 Speaker 3 Mel G, the Mel G. I see all the time. So I did, and I had the most fantastic experience meeting people from all over the world. Loved it. Loved every minute. You don't. I just couldn't get over the satisfaction of the experience. And then Martin got worse. And then we were told it was terminal. And so January 2024, he passed away, and I was lost. 00:07:54:08 - 00:08:23:22 Speaker 3 But we'd sat in the hospice together and talked, and he'd said to me, I want you to get back to your volunteering, because I hadn't done and I was caring for him. So I looked on the volunteer collective portal, which I hadn't done in probably over 12 months, and SportAccord came up, for March last year, which was the global sport and business conference to be held at the ICC. 00:08:23:24 - 00:08:42:01 Speaker 3 And I thought, you know what? Just go for it. And there was a question on there and it said, and it's rare you get this. Nobody really ever asked. But they asked what what does this mean to you? Why do you want to do this? Why do you want to join us? And I said, because I feel like I need a purpose again in life. 00:08:42:03 - 00:09:12:19 Speaker 3 And volunteering gives me that purpose. As I said, about doing something for nothing other than the fact that you're giving and I got accepted on to that. And it did so much for me. Rebuilt my confidence. I was not scared to be with people again. I'd very much withdrawn, inside myself, and it literally restarted my life. 00:09:12:21 - 00:09:20:09 Speaker 3 And I'm just so happy that I applied and got it. And took the first few steps back to be me again. 00:09:20:14 - 00:09:35:22 Speaker 1 It's an amazing story. And what well done you for getting back out there, doing things you enjoy again and giving back. And it sounds like what Mark would have wanted you to do. So in a way, you're honoring him as well. Now, Maureen, you've told us about what you get out as an individual, volunteering for the Volunteers collective. 00:09:35:22 - 00:09:37:08 Speaker 1 But what about the friendships you've made? 00:09:37:14 - 00:10:10:19 Speaker 2 Well, friendship has been in credible. When we were volunteering at the Commonwealth Games, we were part of 50 women for the ball chain. And as a result of that, we've all kept in touch. Now, these are 50 women, but we didn't know each other. And we've built such a friendship group that we go out regularly. And don't forget, the Commonwealth Games was, what, 2022? 00:10:10:20 - 00:10:31:19 Speaker 2 We're not 2025 and we still keep in touch, so we go out regularly. We have one main, member. My name is Jane, and she ensures that she sends our invites to us regularly for us to attend. We can't all attend at the same time, but we do all come together. And we've kept that friendship since 2022. 00:10:31:20 - 00:10:45:04 Speaker 2 Wow. And that's just amazing. And as well as that, when I'm volunteering on the different, events, we meet all sorts of friendships. And we do keep in touch, which is absolutely lovely. 00:10:45:05 - 00:10:53:02 Speaker 1 Oh that's fantastic. And let's stick with volunteers Collective specifically. So, Mel, what is it about the collective that keeps bringing you back? 00:10:53:02 - 00:11:16:08 Speaker 3 Because there's just been so many opportunities and the and that it's opened me up to new things as well. I think that's the other thing is sometimes it challenges you. I mean, SportAccord was very definitely a challenge, but that was for personal reasons. But then one of the opportunities that came up was to go and support at the West Midlands, West Midlands Swimming Championships. 00:11:16:10 - 00:11:33:21 Speaker 3 Last summer. Well April may actually it is and also. Oh, do you know what swim means out of my comfort zone. But it was back at Sandwell, so I thought, why not? So I applied for that and I've just been given the role as volunteer coordinator for the volunteer group. 00:11:33:22 - 00:11:34:13 Speaker 1 Congratulations. 00:11:34:13 - 00:12:03:13 Speaker 3 So it just everything spirals. That's what I've found is a good thing. Leads to something else that you would never have expected. And my life is literally full now. And all of it, it gives me a real buzz. And there's just plenty out there. And the collective has, has that, you know, with them that if you go through the collective, you know that it's been sourced properly, that you'll get support sometimes. 00:12:03:13 - 00:12:22:14 Speaker 3 Yes. Okay. They're only doing the advertising for where the volunteers are needed. But if it's been anything like SportAccord, we were supported by the team, by the collective team, and that was great because you get to see people that you haven't seen for a while and you know, you still get that vibe with each other and whatever. It's good. 00:12:22:20 - 00:12:39:13 Speaker 1 Lovely and so I feel what's been most resonant in this conversation is the fact that I think some people don't realize that volunteering isn't just for those events or companies needs an extra help or some extra staffing. It's an amazing and rewarding opportunity for the volunteers themselves. Would you agree, Maureen? 00:12:39:15 - 00:13:05:15 Speaker 2 Absolutely. Any satisfying any you know, there's talents that you have within that you don't get to to use your show in your everyday job. So this gives you that opportunity. And to see that you're more than just a finance person. There's more to you and and you're given that. And so it is quite satisfying and rewarding. And that's what I enjoy from it. 00:13:05:17 - 00:13:16:09 Speaker 1 And not only is the collective great for those volunteers that are working within it, but all of the events that the collective is involved in seem to come out with glowing reviews for the volunteer crew. Why? Why is that? 00:13:16:09 - 00:13:37:22 Speaker 3 Do you think just because they know that they've got a bunch of people with them that will do well and and it's always well organized. You know, you go that your accreditations ready, you shift so you know, what you shifts are going to be. And there's, you know, some some events that are organized by them are organized so well. 00:13:37:22 - 00:13:50:06 Speaker 3 So I think that's the difference. The people that were supporting and volunteering for can see almost like a professionalism about it that perhaps some other don't have. 00:13:50:07 - 00:13:51:20 Speaker 1 And Maureen, what are your thoughts on that? 00:13:52:00 - 00:14:13:23 Speaker 2 We're friendly. We're approachable, and we'll always wanting to interact with the public. And that's the main thing because don't forget where they face a volunteer collective. So we're out there on display. So we need to be shown to be approachable, friendly. And that's what it's all about. 00:14:14:00 - 00:14:19:14 Speaker 1 What a wonderful sign up there the volunteers collected. Thank you so much to Maureen and Mel for coming on to the show. 00:14:19:14 - 00:14:20:04 Speaker 2 Thank you very much. 00:14:20:04 - 00:14:36:23 Speaker 1 Thank you. Well, there you have it. Two members of the Volunteers Collective getting involved in wonderful events throughout the region and, in their words, getting way more out of it than they put in. It's great to hear those stories. Next up we have Young Man who is partnering football sessions with digital workshops and careers in those much needed areas. 00:14:37:00 - 00:14:45:01 Speaker 1 We'll hear Jaden's story after this. 00:14:45:03 - 00:14:46:21 Speaker 2 Echoed with radio. 00:14:46:23 - 00:14:49:09 Speaker 3 Every story leaves an echo that never fades.