For today’s Volunteer Spotlight, we are pleased to share Nina’s story.
Nina is a volunteer with our Community Champions project, where she promotes health and wellbeing through a variety of activities in the community. She told us what volunteering means to her, and what led her from her roots in India to supporting our south Westminster community today.
Tell us a little about your background
I have a professional background in healthcare projects having worked across the NHS and public sector for over 20 years. My work has focused on improving patient experience and supporting health services to better meet the needs of diverse communities. Alongside this, I’ve always been closely connected to my local area in Churchill Gardens, where I’ve supported neighbours in practical, everyday ways. I am originally from India, came to study in the UK in my early 20’s, that is now 35 years ago.
How did you start volunteering with The Abbey Centre?
I started volunteering with The Abbey Centre following a difficult personal period in my life. I lost my father who was also my best friend to cancer. I was his carer for 20 years after losing my mum. I also faced redundancy and changes on the work front which made life difficult on a number of levels. It became a positive way for me to reconnect with my community and focus on supporting others.
What does a typical volunteering day look like?
A typical day might involve helping to set up the women’s Pilates or chair-based exercise sessions, supporting residents to sign up, and making sure everyone feels welcome and included. I also help with community cooking activities which I absolutely love – cooking with others and learning new recipes from different communities is really great. It is so interesting to see how different cultures use different spices – rice and chicken cooked in the Indian vs Brazilian way! I also help with data entry and come into the Abbey Centre to record the attendance at the community events.
How does your volunteering support our community?
My volunteering focuses on improving health and wellbeing at a grassroots level. Whether it’s encouraging people to stay active, helping reduce social isolation, or supporting residents to access services, it’s about building confidence, connection, and healthier lifestyles within the community. Most importantly though is the personal satisfaction I get from helping others feel supported and connected.
Why did you choose to volunteer?
I chose this role really by chance! I met Asma Monir one of the Community Health and Wellbeing Workers who knocked on my door to invite me to a coffee morning. Asma became a regular go to person for help for my elderly neighbours that I saw were in need of something. My personal passion for community wellbeing is perhaps rooted in having seen health challenges both professionally and within my own family, I wanted to contribute in a more direct and meaningful way locally. Through the coffee mornings I also got introduced to a Dementia Researcher at Imperial College. I am now volunteering with them on dementia awareness sessions at Mosques and Temples. This week I have been to the Gurduwara in Southall and the West London Islamic Centre in Ealing.
What do you like about the Abbey Centre?
I really value the sense of community – the cafe, pantry services, community space and all the different activities that local residents can participate in. Just sitting in the cafe you can see the diversity of people and lovely connections. The Abbey Centre is a welcoming and inclusive space. It’s rewarding to see how small activities can make a big difference in people’s lives. I often now meet residents I recognise from the women’s pilates in local Tesco!
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about health and wellbeing – especially how small, sustainable changes in diet, movement, and daily habits can improve quality of life. I’m also passionate about community connection and helping elderly neighbours who live alone, sometimes quite helpless with failing health, financial stress and worries.
What is your favourite moment from volunteering?
One of my favourite moments has been in community cooking events – I have helped cook a Brazilian and Trinidadian meal. Love how different ingredients and flavours brings people together. Seeing people build friendships, gain confidence, and enjoy being part of something is incredibly rewarding. Learning new recipes is just so interesting!
What have you learned from your volunteering journey?
I’ve learnt how important it is to listen and meet people where they are. Small acts of support and genuine connection can have a much bigger impact than we realise.
What is your favourite thing about south Westminster?
There’s a real mix of cultures and experiences, and people look out for one another in meaningful ways.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself
I’m on a personal wellness journey and have made long-term lifestyle changes around nutrition and exercise, this is really inspired by my father who practiced yoga for 20 years plus. I also enjoy adapting traditional recipes to make them healthier, and I’m currently working on a cookbook that I want to dedicate to my two grandmothers. My paternal and maternal grandmothers came from two parts of Bengal (East and West). The recipes I am compiling remind me of home and growing up – it’s a way of documenting my family recipes – perhaps for my nieces and nephews and the younger generations who will never know the typical meal preparations. In putting this book together, I am reaching to family members in India, Bangladesh and in the UK, which in itself is an extraordinary journey…
Volunteer with us
To find out more about volunteering at The Abbey Centre, visit our Volunteering page.
