Westbury volunteer shares rewards of helping others

Helping people access support is proving rewarding for a Westbury volunteer who wanted to give something back to the community.

Dave Wiseman joined Crosspoint after retiring and deciding he wanted to use his time to help others.

He has lived in Westbury since 1988, and said volunteering has given him a better understanding of the charity’s work and the difference it makes to local people.

“Over the years I have been aware of Crosspoint but never fully understood what it did, getting involved has made me realise how wide our offering is,” he said.

“I really enjoy my sessions and when I feel I have been able to answer a query or help with a problem, it does give me a lift.”

Crosspoint supports people across the BA13 area with a range of issues, from securing a Blue Badge to dealing with pension queries.

Dave said volunteers also often help people who are struggling to navigate paperwork, online forms and other processes.

“No day is the same, every problem can be different, however the binding factor is our volunteers get to help people who are often at their wit’s end navigating red tape, online forms and the like,” he said.

Crosspoint carries out more than 1,000 interventions a year and relies on volunteers and public donations to continue its work.

“My tips to any new volunteers are to leave judgement at the door and surprise yourself with how much your own life experiences can help others,” Dave added.

Anyone interested in volunteering can email info@crosspoint-westbury.co.uk or call the chair of trustees, Andrew McNeilis, on 07771507019.