Norman - Amen Corner, Tooting

"For me, volunteering with Wandsworth Oasis has brought me up to my standard. I can now see myself going back to work full-time...

"I’m a recovering alcoholic, and at the moment I’m in a dry-house and not allowed to work for two years, so I just wanted to do something, give a little bit back...

"It started off gradually, just the odd couple of hours here and there, and now I’m volunteering full-time...

"No two days are ever the same, it's a real pleasure!"                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                       

 Fergus - Clapham Old Town

"I wanted to do something that could help other people, but also help myself at the same time...

"I came here from a place of very low self-esteem, but volunteering has allowed me to build that up again...

"The people I get to meet are the best thing, the people I work with and those who come into the shop."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Tony - Tooting Bec

"I've been volunteering here for nearly ten years now...

"I suffer with depression and anxiety, and am a recovering alcoholic as well, so this keeps me busy while also allowing me to gain new skills...

"Volunteering here has given me a lot of confidence. When I started I would barely come out of the back room. Now I serve at the till, I put clothes out, talk to everybody...

"Perhaps the best thing though is the charity itself, and that it helps people with HIV."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Eli - Amen Corner, Tooting

"I've been working here for about two-and-a-half years now...

"I started out as a volunteer, did that for about six or seven months, then the shop manager position came up so I applied...

"Working here has really built up my confidence - I can talk to people a lot easier now - and it's given me all sorts of problem-solving skills. Running a shop isn't easy sometimes!

"The best thing about it is how different every day is. Some days are challenging but at least it's never dull!"