Community Case Study

Terry first came to our Men’s Grub Club in 2023, having heard about us from staff at the St Pancras Community Centre. Living on his own, he liked the idea of a regular chance to meet and cook with other men of a similar age, and settled in quickly, making friends and learning new recipes to cook at home.

Our community manager Martha suggested he join the Pantry, and he started coming along on a Thursday for his weekly shop. It wasn’t long before he realised that being a member wasn’t enough for him – he wanted to get more involved, so started volunteering. And since then, despite being well into his seventies, he has become one of our most committed volunteers.

Terry is usually the first to sign up for shifts, whether that’s unloading and prepping on a Wednesday or serving and supporting our members on a Thursday. He’s always got a warm word for a member who arrives on their own, or a smile for the children who come along with their parents. He looks after his volunteer colleagues, too, checking in to see if everyone is OK and offering to help if he can.

And his confidence has grown hugely since he started volunteering with us. He’s learning all the time, picking up new skills, and enjoying having a sense of purpose. He also loves that fact that he is giving back to his community, and that he is one of a team who come together to help others.

As he says himself, “This is my family.”