Local Heroes...
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Sarah Spencer-Adams
Kathryn Bell nominated Sarah Spencer-Adams, an NHS worker that specialises in palliative care nursing, for the work she has done in the community. Kathryn said: “Sarah goes above and beyond for her community and has a passion and desire to help people, not only through her volunteering roles but in her spare time too. Sarah is always willing to help anyone and really helped me throughout Covid - nothing is too much trouble and I would like to say a big thank you!” We’d like to second Kathryn’s nomination for Sarah, who kindly offered to become a ‘Friend’ of Life In Orpington to help distribute the magazine locally, despite holding down a job and various other responsibilities. Thanks Sarah – you truly are a community star!
Sarah, we’ve heard a lot about your community work – can you describe what you’re currently involved in? Of course - I volunteer one day a week at the Bromley Food Bank, a Trussell Trust food bank. We have been very busy over the past few months, as the pandemic has sadly increased the demand for our service. We pack up vital food parcels for individuals & families in need. I also help to obtain supplies for Safe Haven Animal Rescue based in Worlds End Lane Orpington. I look out for free pet food and other items that either can be sold to raise funds or can be used directly to help the rescued animals. I find the items on Facebook or other sites & drive all over Bromley, picking items up. People are so immensely generous and often donate extra things, to help us. My car has been transformed from a car into a delivery van! I also make up ‘Mugs Filled With Treats’, recycled mugs filled with goodies that we sell to raise funds. We have stalls at Fun Days & Table Top Sales. I help to reduce food and other waste by participating in Olio – an app that helps to redistribute surplus items of food or non-food. Friends and colleagues often give me things that they no longer need that I then redistribute via the app. I have also become a member of the local Rotary Club in Orpington. Rotary is an international humanitarian organisation. As such, I have recently been involved in helping a mum clear her very overgrown garden. Her young son has been in hospital for many months and her garden inevitably, as she stayed with him at the hospital, became completely overgrown. I’ve helped coordinate a team to clear the garden ready for the little boy’s discharge from hospital. When I’m not working or volunteering, I like to relax with my partner & our rescue puppy cockerpoo, who keeps us busy & amused. I like the countryside & coast, reading, keeping up with current affairs and social history.
How do you feel about being nominated by Kathryn? I am very surprised but also very honoured and grateful. I value the opportunity to be able to share some of the community organisations locally and hope it inspires others to become involved if they can.
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Why was it important for you to get involved in helping your local community? I think participating in community activities is invaluable. It’s very rewarding too – you get to know your fellow neighbours and it’s very satisfying if you can help those that need it too. I now value the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge I have gained from my working life, in voluntary work. I never forget the faces of all those who pick up food parcels from us at the food bank; a smile literally comes back to their faces.
Have you been involved in anything else community-related locally? I’ve helped to provide furnishings and nice things for the newly created staff wellbeing hub at the PRUH. This is a quiet, peaceful place for staff to rest and recuperate away from the clinical area. Again, I’ve collected items from local web sites. I recently put out a request for garden furniture for the outside space of the hub and was overwhelmed with donations of really nice nearly new furniture, meaning staff can relax in the sunshine.
What is it you love most about our local area? And how important are community schemes and local charities do you think? I love the generosity of people locally. When donations are asked for, we always receive way more than we expect and people are so willing to help. As human beings we need connection to each other, connection helps us to grow and develop. Charities and community schemes help us to come together, as a whole to learn and support each other. The challenges of the past year have emphasised how important connection is to us all. A special ‘Thank You’ to Sue at Time For Flowers for sponsoring the bouquets for our Local Heroes. Do you want to nominate a local hero? Email hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk
October 2021 Life in... Orpington 11
