Volunteers’ Week: Volunteer Spotlight

It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re celebrating the incredible contribution of our amazing volunteers. We currently have more than 370 active volunteers supporting older people across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in a variety of ways, including visiting people at home, making regular telephone calls, supporting day centres, running friendship groups, and providing practical support to those who need it most. 

We wanted to share a spotlight on a longtime Volunteer of ours:   

For the past 15 years, Lana has been a shining light at the Bretton Friendship Club—an anchor of warmth, laughter, and community spirit. After retiring from her long career as a chef, Lana found herself widowed soon after. Seeking purpose and connection, she stepped into volunteering at the club, first cooking hearty meals for members and later taking on the role of Club Coordinator. What began as an act of giving has grown into a legacy of care that has touched countless lives.

Today, Lana leads a dedicated team of seven volunteers who work together to run the club every Tuesday from 10am until 2pm. Under her guidance, the weekly sessions have blossomed into lively gatherings filled with homemade lunches, quizzes, bingo, and much more. “It’s a real pleasure for me to do this,” Lana shared. “A true pleasure doing this for all of them. Everyone gets on, and true friendships have formed.” 

Lana shared. “A true pleasure doing this for all of them. Everyone gets on, and true friendships have formed.” 

Her passion and steady leadership have helped the club evolve through changing times—adapting to new members, new needs, and the practical realities of running a volunteer‑led group. Thanks to her commitment, the Bretton Friendship Club remains not only sustainable but thriving, offering connection, comfort, and joy to those who attend. 

When asked about her most treasured memory from her years of volunteering, Lana didn’t hesitate: there have simply been too many special moments to choose from. Over the years, the group has held fundraising garden parties, enjoyed coach trips, and shared countless meals out together. Yet, for Lana, the biggest reward has always been the genuine friendships that have grown within the club. 

Members who once arrived as strangers now holiday together, support neighbours with meals, and help one another access important services—confidence boosted by hearing trusted first‑hand experiences from fellow members. This peer support has reduced worry around seeking benefit advice or financial guidance, empowering individuals to reach out and get the help they need. 

Through her kindness, leadership, and steady presence, Lana has helped shape the Bretton Friendship Club into much more than a weekly gathering. It is a true community—one built on laughter, shared experiences, and the simple but life‑changing power of friendship. Her story reminds us of the incredible impact volunteers can make, not only in the lives of others, but in nurturing spaces where people can connect, grow, and belong. 

If you would like to find out more about volunteering please contact us Email: volunteering@ageukcap.org.uk or Phone: 01223 221925