Momentum Event Volunteer

From bucket collections at local supermarkets to stepping into Momentum’s famous Mo the Owl mascot costume, and manning stalls at fairs throughout the year – there is nothing that Event Volunteer, Rob, won’t do to support the charity! Rob, from West Molesey, Surrey, tells us more:

“I had been retired for a while when I realised, I finally had the time to give something back. I wanted to support a local charity, and a neighbour, who worked at Momentum at the time, suggested I take a look. After learning more about what they do, the cause really resonated with me, especially as a family man myself.

Just over two years on, I am still really enjoying my role as an event volunteer. I help sell tickets and run stalls at events, including the ‘Throw a Mo’ game, where beanbags are thrown through the holes… and my rule is that there are no rules! It gets everyone smiling, and if the children are happy, the parents are too, and it creates a wonderful buzz.

I rarely say no to a volunteering request, and being retired means I have a flexible schedule. I really enjoy the variety the role brings – the very first task I was given was to dress up as an elf at Momentum’s Christmas grotto!

I worked as a civil servant for 40 years, so I am used to connecting with people from all walks of life. As both a parent and a grandparent, I am comfortable chatting with people of all ages.

In December last year, I spent three days outside Tesco in West Molesey collecting donations. I know it can sometimes be difficult to recruit volunteers for this kind of thing, but I really enjoyed it, even on my own. Simply saying “local children’s charity” as people came and went was enough. It raised over £1,000 and I was impressed by the generosity of local people.

One of the main challenges is making sure we have the right items to sell at fairs and events. One of my most successful moments was at Collets’ fireworks night last November – I sold light-up spinning toys, and everyone wanted one.

My confidence representing Momentum at events has grown hugely over time, whether I am running stalls or games like ‘Throw a Mo’ and ‘Spin the Wheel’. At the heart of it all is the simple reminder that Momentum is there to help people and nothing beats seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they are playing the games.

I don’t feel the cold on my legs, and I am known for wearing shorts 365 days a year, so people often think I must have been a postman! That said, some of the outdoor events have been freezing, so my dream would be for community volunteers to have a Momentum-branded beanie hat.

Last year I was delighted to receive a volunteering award, along with a voucher for a hotel stay. The recognition and appreciation meant a great deal to me.

Outside of Momentum, my wife and I love travelling. New Zealand has been my favourite trip so far – we hired a campervan and explored for four weeks; it was beautiful. Next stop is Borneo at the end of the month.

I love watching live sport and hold a season ticket at Portsmouth FC. I also enjoy supporting local teams, including Walton & Hersham FC and Esher Rugby Club.

To keep fit, I walk five miles every day, and my wife and I get lots of enjoyment from tending our allotment.”

We are always looking for more people to join us as events volunteers. It is a fun and varied role – from marshalling and cheering on participants at challenge events, to helping at Momentum events, running stalls, and supporting bucket collections.

The gift of your time is invaluable to our charity, and if you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Email volunteers@momentumcharity.org or find out more here