International Women’s Day 2021

As part of International Women Day 2021, Elays Network took the opportunity to give many thanks to, and have Cathy Martins an active member of our community to take part in a discussion about volunteering. Here’s what we found out about her inspirational work.

Cathy started volunteering in the community and is still woking in our community after 50 years. The first club she set up was in Crawley before moving to Wandsworth. Her early work started in local churches, youth clubs and schools. Now aged 81 Cathy works to tackle isolation for people over 50 years old in the local area.

Cathy choose to volunteer to help save children, labelled key children, from ill treatment in the early seventies. Over the years Cathy has helped many children and their families by nurturing the family networks. Cathy went above and beyond to make sure that children not only had their basic needs met, but also yearly raised funds for children to go on trips, all whilst caring for her own family and working.

Cathy cannot single out one single first memory as she feels that throughout all her experience seeing children happy and safe is what puts a smile on her face and there is nothing more that makes her happy.

Volunteering has shaped Cathy in numerous ways making her a better person and more positive, seeing the changes that she could make in other peoples lives.

Cathy encourages others to become volunteers and states ‘its the best thing that anyone can do for themselves and others in their community”.

What stood out for me whilst hearing Cathys interview was her undivided attention to community needs, children’s safety and a great deal of passion for empowering children and adults throughout their lives so that they get the best opportunities.