Stephen & Martin

Link Visiting Scheme volunteer Stephen shares his experience of building connections with his Link Friend and seeing just how transformative their friendship has been for Martin.

What do you tend to do when you get together?

Martin and I get together weekly and usually have lunch in Wokingham. We rotate around the various coffee shops and have a good catch-up on what’s been going on in our lives. It’s great for both of us to get out. It’s great that we can both listen to each other and show interest. We talk about all sorts of things and always have a bit of a laugh.

Many things and we continue to discover more. Gardening, bad Dad jokes, general knowledge, chatting, cars, local news, bad tv. We never run out of things to talk about! I video call Martin once a week also just to check in and see how he’s doing. Usually just a quick call but he’s always pleased to hear from me.

What have you learnt from volunteering?

From Martin, I have learnt to be more patient, to slow down a little and to enjoy every moment of my life. Working in a frenetic corporate environment means that my life is often travelling at 100 miles per hour. Martin has helped me slow down a lot and be more mindful. I’ve also learnt about the difference that small acts of kindness can mean to someone’s life. What may seem like a small gesture can actually be very powerful.

This has been a huge lesson for me since my involvement with The Link. The difference you can make to someone else’s life by volunteering is very powerful. A relatively small investment of your time can make a world of difference to people who need connection and conversation. I really underestimated what a difference I could make and am so glad that I did it.

Share a memorable experience

We try at least once a year to go out for the day together somewhere special. Martin had the idea of going to Beaulieu Motor Museum for our latest trip so I booked tickets and drove us both down there. It was great to see the smile on Martins's face as we looked at the car collection and visited the stately home. The smile on his face said it all and we had a wonderful day that will last in our memories for a long time.

Has Martin changed?

The acid test really is how Martin's family have seen him change. They notice the positive impact more than I do and have been amazed at how positive this experience has been for him. He has grown in confidence, is more positive about life, more optimistic, physically and mentally healthier and he truly values our friendship (just as I do). It has been miraculous to see the change in him.