Nathan's Story
“It is a warm feeling knowing that you have improved someone’s day by doing something so little.”
Nathan Marvel, 26, is a marvel by name and a marvel by nature. Pre 2017, he used to visit his Nan every day after work for a chat and a cup of tea, and after she passed away he said he ‘missed that connection with someone’, and thought due to the spare time he had, he would like to do something about it.
After seeing an Age UK Hertfordshire post on his friends Instagram account, he applied to be a befriending volunteer online. After meeting with his coordinator, Jane Atkins, Nathan met with his potential new friend, Ray and his family.
Nathan and Ray hit it off right away and agreed to meet once a week for an hour and a half. When Nathan visits Ray he takes cake with him and they have the slice each with a glass of squash whilst watching Ray’s favorite TV show, Flog It.
Nathan says: “Ray quite enjoys my work as a mechanic, so I take pictures of my work and we talk about them for hours.”
Nathan has now been visiting Ray for 3 years, he still receives calls from Ray’s family, thanking him for the wonderful thing he is doing for Ray, especially taking him out for the day at their local garden centre.
Nathan said: “My Nan was confined to her four walls and didn’t really go out. Coming away knowing you have done something to make someone’s day feel really good, even if it is just a tea and chat to you.”
Nathan, 26.