For many years I anticipated becoming a volunteer at the Rock Houses when I retired. However for many reasons I never got round to it.

Unfortunately, COVID came along and by May 2020 I became a widow, and after many years as part of a couple, I had to suddenly learn how to live as a single person.

We all know it was a terrible time for everyone, by September of that year I was in a bad place, despite having a loving family and friends. I realised I had to make an effort, to set myself on a path for the future. Therefore, on the 9^th of September 2020 I arrived at the back door of the Rock Houses, to ask about Volunteering. I was immediately introduced to the then manager who spent the time to find out all about me, what I needed,  and  where I could best be used.

That is why I ended up outside the Cafe, it was a new role, necessary because of the pandemic, and is just right for me.

Volunteering has given me the opportunity to be part of a great team of people, volunteers and staff from all walks of life, and make new friends. Also to play a part within that team by helping visitors to enjoy such a wonderful place, and by doing so contribute to a positive future for the Rock Houses.

I see volunteering as a fifty/fifty partnership, you should take as much from it as you give to it.

That has certainly happened to me, I have regained my confidence, moved house, done many things I never thought I would, expanded my horizons outside of volunteering, and found a way of contributing to the future.

Becoming a volunteer saved me from being a lonely old l

Although we are both born and bred in the Midlands, we moved down to London in the mid-1980s where we met, married and raised a family.  In 2022, with all but one of our children having moved out, we decided it was time to escape to the country and settled in Kinver that summer.

Having some time on our hands in a new place where we knew no-one, we were keen to meet people and contribute in some small way to the village.  One day, whilst walking Ruby, our Miniature Schnauzer, on Kinver Edge, we came across a notice for a forthcoming Volunteer Day for the Rock Houses and thought we’d see what that entailed.  It was clear that there were a wide variety of opportunities open to us and a great degree of flexibility in how often we did them.  Paul chose to be a Room Guide, as that suits him well – meeting people, chatting and being confident in sharing the history of what it was like to live in the Rock Houses; Marion joined the Gardening team as she loves being outside and working in a team.  We started in our roles in the spring of 2023.

After moving to Kinver and volunteering for over a year now, it’s fair to say the move has been fantastic – just what we needed.  Marion says, “To be a part of Team Red (the Gardening Team) has been such fun. Knowledge of gardening isn’t essential (thankfully) as there are plenty of people in the team with a very good understanding of plants. It’s been “have a go….plants want to grow!” which has helped me to gain confidence. The team is really sociable and we enjoy our tea breaks!  It’s also great to think how the gardens may have been in the past, the plants and veg that may have been grown over the years. It’s also been good to think about the gardens in terms of a visitor experience at the Rock Houses. Being set within Kinver Edge, the Rock House gardens are more like an extension of the wider area.”

We have both really enjoyed being part of our respective teams and belonging to the wider group of volunteers that help make the Edge & the Rock Houses all they are.  The NT staff are very supportive and our more experienced colleagues helped us get up to speed quickly and remain great to work with.  We would highly recommend exploring volunteering with the NT.