National Volunteers’ Week 2021
Roger and Carol Stevenson

Volunteering at EHAAT – Roger and Carol Stevenson

• Volunteering since 2015 and 2013 respectively
• Help with bucket collections
• Enjoy talking to the public about the charity
• Look after a charity tin collection round

We are Roger and Carol Stevenson and we have been keen volunteers for 8 and 6 years respectively. We have both been supporters of local and international charities for many years but have had a special regard for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance having seen the wonderful work carried out by the charity both on television and in the local press when the crew has attended callouts in our area.

After joining the volunteer team, we attended an induction meeting at Earls Colne when we met the friendly staff and a young man who had been involved in a serious motorbike accident where, owing to the urgent treatment he had received from the crew, he had recovered from life-threatening injuries.

Since becoming volunteers, we have been tin collectors for locations in the Hadleigh, Thundersley and Benfleet areas collecting and exchanging tins and handing in the donations. On occasions, when necessary, we have visited sites in Orsett, Thurrock, Grays, Corringham, Noakbridge, Canvey Island, Thorpe Bay, Wakering and Shoeburyness. Our last visit, before lockdown, was to “The Range” at Pitsea where we collected 10 tins of coinage weighing just over 5 stone – the cashier at the bank tried to hide beneath the counter and had to be coaxed out! But seriously, she was very kind and patient.

Over the years we have helped with bucket collections at a gymnastic display in Southend, at various supermarkets and garden centres, sold merchandise at a Pagan Festival, scrubbed old tins in the company of other local “scrubbers” and helped with the 2020 tin audit. It has been a most enjoyable and rewarding experience in engaging with the public, many members of whom have had experience of the charity’s work through family members and friends that have received medical and sometimes life-saving treatment from the air ambulance crew. We are looking forward to resuming volunteering.

Our motto has become, ”Have Tins, Will Travel”!

Roger and Carol