To mark Volunteers’ Week, we’re shining a light on some of the remarkable people who give their time to support the John Whitgift Foundation.
When we asked colleagues to nominate volunteers who make a real difference to the Foundation, Jill Proctor and her husband, Ian, came up again and again. It’s not hard to see why. Between them, they’ve given more than 24 years of their time and energy to Whitgift Care, and by their own estimate, thousands of cups of tea.
How it began
After taking early retirement, Jill found herself visiting the sheltered side of the home regularly, as her mother was already a resident. “I’ve been doing it for about 14 years now,” she says. “I joined the Friends of Whitgift, and when that disbanded, I just sort of carried on, helping with activities, getting to know the staff and residents.”
Ian joined her when he retired a decade ago, and the two have been a familiar double act ever since. Whether it’s running the Friday bingo, organising croquet, or turning up in full festive costume – Ian as Father Christmas and Jill as his enthusiastic elf – they throw themselves into life at Whitgift House.
The residents at Wilhelmina House don’t miss out; the pair also do their Father Christmas visit there. It’s a tradition that has grown to include a third generation: their great-granddaughter, who is an elf-in-training. “The residents’ faces light up when they see a three-year-old walk in,” says Jill.
What keeps Jill and Ian coming back
Jill is quick to push back on any suggestion that volunteering is purely selfless. “I think we get as much out of it as we give, actually,” she says. “Definitely.”
Living opposite the home makes it easy to pop over, but that’s not what drives them. It’s the relationships with residents and staff, and with the place itself. “We know everybody by name. Staff and residents alike. It’s a lovely atmosphere.”
For Jill, volunteering was always part of her plan. “I always said I wanted to do voluntary work when we retired, and it’s the ideal place for us to do it, where it’s situated, the grounds, everything really.”
Ian, who shares Jill’s outlook, is rarely far from her side during activities. The two almost always volunteer together, and Jill is confident his feelings echo her own: “We always go over together. There’s very rarely a time when we’re not at an activity together.”
After all these years, the result feels less like a commitment and more like belonging. “It’s like a second home,” says Jill.
Jill’s advice for anyone thinking of volunteering
If you’re considering volunteering in the community but aren’t sure where to start, Jill’s message is simple: give it a go.
“You don’t know until you try, and you will get as much out of it as you put in. You really will. Just to be able to chat to people, it’s the little things that make a difference.”
