TCV
The community volunteering charity
David was grieving, adjusting to a new life as a single parent, feeling depressed, miserable and lonely. Green Gym gave him a new opportunity to improve his overall health and to get his life, for his son, back on track.
In the past, David has had to combat many challenges in his life which affected his health and well-being. TCV’s Green Gym has given David the confidence to go out and do other things during the pandemic.
Make a difference by donating £10 this Christmas – you can help TCV to continue to help others like David.
After David’s partner died of secondary liver cancer, he became a single parent to their young son Joseph. He was grieving, adjusting to life without her feeling depressed, miserable and lonely.
David was struggling to get out of bed in the mornings. “If it hadn’t been for Joseph, I don’t know whether I would have got out of bed at all“.
Attending his first TCV Green Gym session in June 2019, David was unsure of what to expect and whether he would even stay for the whole session.
We’ve got Christmas coming up and it’s this time of year that gets to me a little, but I will keep volunteering to help me and Joseph, it’s amazing. Please donate this Christmas and help TCV to continue to help me.
David
David’s feelings of being unsure about what Green Gym could offer him soon disappeared. Volunteering has given David confidence and a routine which really helps him.
Being a TCV volunteer, it gets me out of my own head. I still suffer from depression and anxiety, but I am working on them. Getting out of the house makes a huge difference. If I am just sitting in the house, I start to panic and get confused. Through volunteering, I now have a routine and I really enjoy it.
His creativity is demonstrated in the Green Gym garden, his recent projects include making practical, useful equipment, up-cycling materials on site to create planters for the school, lots of weeding and vegetable growing.
David has achieved a lot this year despite his mental health problems. He has now progressed to be a Volunteer Officer, demonstrating brilliant leadership and organisational skills.
TCV’s Green Gym has given David the confidence to go out and do other things during the pandemic. He has been volunteering at two food banks, built a greenhouse for the local parish council, and has helped the NHS and the local council to support elderly people get their food and medicine.
I take one day at a time. I don’t want to get my hopes up, I don’t even know what my hopes are. I just enjoy what I am doing, and I want to continue doing it.
A donation of £10 will help more people across the country like David to gain confidence to change their life. Please help us and donate today, you can help to make a difference this Christmas.
“We’ve got Christmas coming up and it’s this time of year that gets to me a little, but I will keep volunteering to help me and Joseph, it’s amazing. Please donate this Christmas and help TCV to continue to help me.”
Since working with David to share his story, we were thrilled to hear that he has been awarded with the Eco Warrior Award at the sixth annual Leicestershire Live Heroes Awards. We are so proud of him and all of his achievements.