The PSP Association

Brenda and Jacqueline - May 2008

Brenda and Jacqueline started volunteering with The PSP Association in early 2008.  Both have direct experience of PSP, having lost a relative to the disease and wanted to do something useful to help other people suffering with PSP.

Brenda's help making up ‘Afternoon Tea for PSP' party packs for the 2008 National PSP Awareness Week was invaluable and she later organised an awareness raising stand at her local Co-operative store. 

Brenda arranged everything from gaining store permission, to lining up the raffle prizes and getting some friends to help on the day.  The event was held on Friday 11th April 2008 and raised £398.20, but more importantly helped to increase awareness of PSP.

I am happy to do anything that will raise awareness of this disease, it is important that other families receive early diagnoses so that their loved ones get the best support that is available to them - Brenda

Jacqueline has mainly been helping out at The PSP Association's offices in Towcester but also manned the Co-operative stand and held her own ‘Afternoon Tea for PSP' in the Northamptonshire village of Evenley.  For Jacqueline her main motivation for volunteering was that she found herself with spare time on her hands.

Because my family had been affected by PSP, The PSP Association had to be my charity of choice. I am quite happy to do something useful week by week that allows paid staff to do something more important. - Jacqueline

Gill's Story

"I joined The PSP Association as a volunteer in October 2007 and wrote a small introductory article in the Winter 2007 magazine.  Since then I have worked on many aspects of the fundraising process with the aims of increasing the awareness of PSP and CBD as well as raising vital funds.  My first projects were based around the 2007 Christmas Carol Service and the 2008 London Marathon and I helped prepare packs of information and update the admin databases.

Marilyn Osborne, Director of Fundraising, is keen to keep her volunteers informed about all aspects of what's happening across the charity and in May held a Tea Party for all the office volunteers.  This was much appreciated by all who attended, particularly as it provided an opportunity to meet other staff members, ask questions and hear just how much volunteer support is appreciated.

The work is varied, tasks are allocated according to existing skills, but opportunities are provided to learn new things.  For example I have used my IT and project management skills to create databases and trend analysis, but have also learned how to do a mail merge, bind books and guillotine in straight lines - all great lessons for an impatient person like me!

A volunteer's role can also include going off site.  In April, I was thrilled to attend The Northants Business Showcase Event at Kettering Conference Centre organised by Biznet Enterprises Ltd.  This included the well known Yorkshire celebrity chef, James Martin (of Eating with the Enemy, Ready Steady Cook and Strictly Come Dancing fame) giving a very amusing talk on his life and career.  A book signing and walk about enabled Alan (from the Fundraising Team) and I to have photos taken with James, who kindly agreed to wear a PSP T-shirt.  And yes, he is as gorgeous in real life as on TV, also very modest and funny - shame I'm not 30 years younger!

In May I helped at the PSP stand at the Towcester Fete and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, the generosity of local people and meeting family and friends of colleagues on such a sunny day.

In summary, volunteer tasks are varied, worthwhile, interesting and fun.  It doesn't matter what your skills are, there is so much to be done!  Training is given and support provided, so whether I am making up packs of information, updating a database, phoning as part of a fundraising project or writing articles like this I feel useful and enjoy my hours at The PSP Association's office".