Formerly a bus driver, North Shields resident John Kirk, has been making the most of his free time volunteering in several roles. After providing voluntary administration support at VODA for a few years, John has lately been involved in a number of new community programmes, including those at the Linskill Centre and Way Out in Gateshead.
“I feel like I have a new lease of life,” said John. “I’ve taken part in an outdoor activities programme and tried things like kayaking, which I’ve never done before. For me, volunteering keeps me busy and active, and I’ve met some great people through the different roles I’ve had. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who has recently retired and has some spare time on their hands.”