Meet Connect volunteers
Carol Lewis
My brother, who lives in Scotland, had a stroke in 1995 and as a result he has aphasia. I tried to find out as much as possible about the condition and when I retired from teaching I wanted to do voluntary work to help support people with aphasia.
In 2004 I came on a couple of training courses at Connect. I felt that Connect was definitely something that I wanted to be part of, so I was very pleased to be taken on as a volunteer. I give communication support to people with aphasia who take part in the Innovation Projects, so that means helping within groups or at events or workshops. I help people with aphasia take in information and make their views known even if they are unable to talk. The music group is co-facilitated by people with aphasia and I am there to give whatever support is needed.
I also help prepare people with aphasia to become volunteers in the community, by making sure they understand what is involved and going with them to give support when they start their own voluntary work. I was pleased to help Emmanuel Godis in this way when he started his voluntary work for the Bankside Open Spaces Trust. I also give communication support at Open Days at Connect and at Art Workshops at the National Portrait Gallery.
The work can be quite challenging but regular planning meetings and feedback sessions with Sally McVicker and Marian Jennings make me feel well supported in what I do.
Aphasia is so often a very isolating condition and people with aphasia talk of their relief in coming to Connect, where their problems are understood and where something is done to help them. One of the most striking things about Connect is the friendly, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
It is very good to see people's confidence increase as a result of their experiences at Connect and rewarding to feel that I may have contributed in some way to this. Communication with my brother has also improved and it was great that he was able to come to an open day at Connect in January 2006.
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