Creating community connections: Leah’s story

Twenty-five years ago, I began my own journey of making the UK my home. Like countless others who have crossed oceans and borders in search of new beginnings, I learned firsthand that the path to belonging is paved not just with determination, but with the kindness of those who reach out their hands to help.

Now, as a Retail Volunteer Coordinator at Sue Ryder, I find myself on a different kind of journey – one where I can be that helping hand for others who are building their lives here.

This role has transformed my understanding of community. When I connect with refugee support organisations, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) providers, healthcare services and local groups, I'm weaving a network of hope.

My role extends beyond traditional volunteer recruitment. I regularly deliver in-store and virtual sessions to ESOL students, exploring what volunteering means, what charity shops do, and explaining the meaning of terms like 'palliative' and ‘charity’, or more retail specific terms like ‘Bric-a-brac.’

The real magic happens when we discuss people’s individual interests and aspirations, and connect these to opportunities within our shops.

We don't see refugees, asylum seekers, or visa holders – we see doctors, lawyers, artists and dreamers who need a place to belong. Every volunteer badge we hand out is a small but mighty reminder that they are valued.

One story that captures the essence of our work comes from our Sherborne shop. Through local social prescribers, we connected with a resettlement team supporting a man from Afghanistan who wanted to improve his English, become part of the community, learn about British culture, and enhance his mental health.

The resettlement team accompanied him on the 30-minute bus journey from his rural home to our shop and stayed with him during his taster session. Afterward, they shared that he left feeling excited and happy about volunteering with us. On his second visit, they joined him again to build his confidence. On the third, he began traveling on his own – a significant milestone in his journey toward independence and community integration.

Shop manager, Rowena, says that he makes a tremendous difference in the stockroom and brightens everyone's day. Despite language differences, communication has never been a problem, as the team finds creative ways to connect.

The team have also found that learning flows in both directions. When sorting books and coming across Shakespeare, the team explained who Shakespeare was and his significance in British literature. In return, he shared about his country's equivalent literary figure – a beautiful moment of cultural exchange.

This is what being a community shop team truly means. We're all learning from each other, creating spaces where everyone's contributions are valued.

Some of my most powerful memories come from our shop teams working with asylum seekers who were residents of the Bibby Stockholm barge, and I've seen former graphic designers, doctors and lawyers rebuild their sense of purpose within our shop walls.

When I visit our shops, I watch as our teams become cultural bridges and informal guides. I hear customers sharing local knowledge with volunteers, and I witness those small moments of connection that change perspectives on both sides.

Helping people belong isn't just a kind gesture; it's a powerful act of community building. For our volunteers, it's often their first step into UK work culture, providing valuable experience and references for future employment.

For our shops, the diversity of experience and perspective these volunteers bring helps us better serve our communities.

It's a powerful reminder that when we open our doors to everyone, we all grow stronger together.