Not for profit organisation Octavia that provides social housing, help and care for people has celebrated one of its Ealing shop volunteers with an award.
Jill Kayum, who has been volunteering four days a week for more than three years at the Ealing Octavia charity shop has been recognised during this week’s national Volunteers’ Week.
Ms Kayum, who lost her job during the 2020 pandemic then discovered she needed to have surgery for a benign brain tumour. Following this, she said her confidence was shattered and found herself lacking a sense of purpose.
Ms Kayum said: ‘It was awful. My confidence had gone completely. I became shy for the first time in my life.”
Once lockdown was lifted, Ms Kayum and her sister visited the Octavia Ealing store with her sister to do some shopping and discovered opportunities to volunteer which could help her regain her confidence.
She said: “I was initially very nervous, but I hoped it would help me to regain my confidence. I decided to put in an application, and within three days the manager confirmed that he wanted me to join the volunteer team. I haven’t looked back since – volunteering has really helped to get me back on my feet, and the team at Octavia Ealing are so lovely.”
Presenting Jill with the Octavia Above and Beyond volunteer award, volunteer coordinator Tatiana said: “I am so happy that Jill is receiving this Award. I had the pleasure of working with Jill and she truly deserves it. Everything she does for the shop and the community comes from her heart. She puts her one hundred per cent into everything she does, and she genuinely cares. She is amazing and an inspiration.”
