Volunteer Carlene Grant gets certificate from Mayor 

Welcome Project Volunteer receives a certificate for her exemplary contribution to Volunteering from the Mayor of London

Carlene Grant (affectionately known by all as ‘Aunty’ Carlene) has been with the Welcome Project since October 2003 and during that time has fulfilled a number of volunteering roles. Initially she started as a kitchen assistant helping the Cook to prepare food and ensuring the washing up was done and the kitchen tidied. If the cook wasn’t available Carlene ably stepped in and prepared and cooked the meal for the day with the assistance of others.

In 2013, Carlene who is retired suffered a period of ill health and was unable to volunteer for 3 months. Carlene’s desire to serve has always been strong and as soon as she became well enough came back to the project in a new role of facilitating the showers and laundry. Twice a week Carlene diligently manages the client shower list and books in the laundry, putting the washes into the washing machines and dryers, then folds and re-packs the clothes back into a bag ready for the clients to collect. Every Friday morning Carlene also prepares the Rough sleepers breakfast.

Carlene is famous for her banana fritters and used to cook them regularly at the project! We are still fortunately that every now and again for a treat she makes them for us!

Carlene has always been keen to help those who are less fortunate than herself and brings in donations of food cooked at home or spare clothing. Despite retiring many years ago she has been keen to continue volunteering and has actually increased her volunteer hours! Since starting with the project Carlene has done in excess of 4,000 hours!

In September 2015 Carlene was shortlisted in the Team London Awards for the ‘My Community Category’ for exemplary contribution to Volunteering. She went up to City Hall where she was presented with a certificate signed by the Mayor of London.

You will always see Carlene in the centre talking with the clients and encouraging them. She is a very precious resource to the project and we really appreciated her.