Paul, Our Former Drop-In Coordinator - Gone Too Soon

To give a sense of the man and his valuable contribution to our work, here are a few reflections on the man and his mission:

"Paul was an ever-smiling presence on our Drop-in days and was the go-to person if a problem cropped up. Team leaders always knew that he could be consulted if necessary. He was very keen to maintain a spirit of camaraderie amongst the volunteers, and it was at his suggestion that a volunteers-only lunch should be organised where the emphasis was on ‘socialising.’ It was also Paul’s idea that volunteers and other well-wishers might wish to make a regular financial donation to the work of the Destitution Project and this idea was followed up as the Sponsor a Destitute Asylum Seeker initiatives (link to it here: Sponsor A Destitute Asylum Seeker). Paul was a great asset to the DP."
Elsie, Volunteer & English Teaching Lead.

"Paul consistently brought energy and enthusiasm to the project. He was dedicated to DP and will always be remembered!"
Shaheda, Senior Caseworker

"Paul was the first person our project employed to focus on taking charge of the Drop-In activities. We will have fond remembrances of his broad smile, commanding voice and the enthusiastic way he engaged with the team and took charge of the whole operation "downstairs" every Wednesday. May he rest in peace."
David, DP Chair of Trustees

"I was very sorry to hear about Paul. I send the family my sincere condolences. My heart goes out to you during this painful time. May the memories of Paul bring you comfort and many you find strength and support. You are in my thoughts."
Zanyar, longtime Service User at DP

"We bought a megaphone for the Drop-in in case we had to make an announcement in an emergency. Paul was meticulous about setting it up every Wednesday morning for the Drop-in AND checking the megaphone was working. No Wednesday morning set up was complete without Paul’s early morning “wake up” call to the Team. Happily, the emergency for which it was intended has never happened. During Covid, Paul planned and carried out a 167 mile “Grandad Walk” to see his grandchildren in Hemel Hempstead, London as a fundraising event for DP. His walk took him far and wide along many of the lesser-known footpaths of Bolton’s Croal Orwell Valley County Park. For some of the stretches I was very pleased to be his companion on the journey (the correct 2 metres distance maintained of course!). Altogether he raised £325….an amazing achievement!"
Mags, Trustee and Paul's Line Manager

Donations

Paul continues to leave a legacy of support for DP. Rather than giving flowers, his family kindly organised for people who attended his funeral on February 6th (both online and in person at St Patrick's RC Church in Bolton) to make a donation to DP, in recognition of his work with us. They sorted collection boxes at the funeral and also signposted people to our online donation platform at: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/19656#!/DonationDetails

Bolton News Article

• Bolton News Article about Paul and his work in the Community >

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE DESTITUTION PROJECT (DP)?

To run its weekly Drop-In for asylum seekers and refugees and provide casework support, the Destitution Project relies heavily on the help and dedication of its volunteers.

Because we are a thriving organisation with much work to be done, we are looking for volunteers who are able to give us at least one day per week for a minimum of 6 months. If you are recently retired, part-time employed or otherwise able to give us this level of commitment, we would love to hear from you!

You can email us at: info@boltondp.org and send us a CV or details on your relevant experience and availability. We will then arrange for you to visit the Drop-In on a Wednesday so that you can have a guided tour and we can explain a bit more about what volunteering with us will involve.

Particular skills we are currently looking for are:

General admin skills and experience: You will need to be able to come in on different days (e.g. on Wednesdays and Fridays) when needed. We will work with you to find times that suit both you and the team.

IT and computer skills: we often need help on a Wednesdays (9.00am - 3.00pm) and sometimes on other occasions when needed.

DP Reception Team: you will need to be able to come in from 9.00am to 3.30 pm each Wednesday and help with the sign-in system, welcoming service users and visitors and managing access to the Drop-In.

Drop in Team: you will need to be able to come in from 9am- 3.00pm on Wednesdays. It may involve General Hall Duties including the setting up and putting away of furniture and games equipment or supporting in the Food or Clothes Room with managing stock and assisting our Service Users. You will need to be able to work well as part of a team.

English Teaching: to teach English at a basic or intermediate level in small groups on a Wednesday each week. No formal qualifications required but some background in English teaching/education may be helpful.

Thank you for considering volunteering with us!

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