Volunteer Stories

The best place...............

The Knowles Tooth Childrens Centre has really helped me to turn my life around. A year ago, I was very depressed, unemployed and in trouble with the law. I decided to change direction and thought I would volunteer somewhere to see if I could make a difference to others and for myself. I found Family Support Work on the internet,  through a voluntary work website, I forget which one.

I started to come to Knowles Tooth once a week, doing anything I could to help the extremely hard working staff. I was doing administrative work, painting, gardening and helped in the open day last September. In the summer of 2009, EDF workers and I dug out the edges of the large pond which was hard, smelly work. I did get stuck more than a few times in the mud, but it was definitely worth it. The pond looks great and we even have a couple of resident ducks.

Knowles Tooth is really special to me, the surroundings are magnificent, the gardens beautiful, the staff incredibly friendly and the children are great.

Thanks to Knowles Tooth, I now don't recognise myself or my life from a year ago. I have been working full time for 1 month, have moved in with my wonderful new girlfriend, who today at the South of England Show did a sterling job, face painting for 40+ children at the family support work stand.

I now know that I can make a difference, thanks to my volunteer work at Knowles Tooth and I hope to see you all at the Knowles Tooth open day on Sunday the 5th September 2010.

Tim Coke