Since 2012, I have been volunteering at a breast cancer charity for various roles such as Baggage Tent Leader and Meet and Greet Team Leader. This year, on 17-18 May 2025, I took part in the London MoonWalk as a Route Marshal.
I was stationed at Zone 19 (between mile 18 and 19) on Gloucester Road - this was the first time I was assigned as a Route Marshal. Duties started at 11:30pm on 17 May and continued until 8:00am the following day, ensuring the walkers were guided at crossroads and not walking through vehicle green lights. I also assisted any walkers struggling, providing assistance to the nearest First Aid station.
It was a fantastic experience encouraging the solitary walkers and those in groups. It was also an overwhelming experience to witness the number of walkers who were walking in the memory of loved ones they had lost to breast cancer. Also, this year we had a lot more men and children walking compared to previous years.
Introducing Volunteer Leave for Trinity SELT staff has been very useful as we don't have to take Annual Leave and it adds to the social value objectives/aims of SELT. It also gives us a chance to meet other volunteers and get a glimpse as to why they are also giving their time to volunteering.
My advice to other colleagues yet to take Volunteer Leave is that it's a very good incentive to be part of some sort of initiative, be it a breast cancer charity or any charity/food bank/soup kitchen, or even a canal and river trust. It gives you a chance to be out and about with other volunteers, have a conversation with people in need, and give something back to society.
“My advice to other colleagues yet to take Volunteer Leave is that it's a very good incentive to be part of some sort of initiative, be it a breast cancer charity or any charity/food bank/soup kitchen.”