Tony’s story
Tony became a volunteer with the Swingbridge community boat after a long period of
depression, alcohol and drug addiction.
He had got his life back to some stability and but he had been out of work for three
years and his self-confidence was shaky. He describes himself as painfully shy and
introverted. Volunteering was a tentative first step back towards employment.
He started by helping with the summer boat trips for people from community groups
, where the camaraderie of the team draw him out of himself and he discovered that
he enjoyed chatting to passengers, many of them needy, shy and nervous themselves,
and putting them at their ease.
It was when he got involved in the Swingbridge conservation work programme that Tony’s
greatest talents shone through. He was used to the physical side of the work because
he had previously been an experienced warehouseman but he found working with Swingbridge
far more rewarding.
He loved working outdoors, was inspired by the valuable contribution that he and
other volunteers were making to public open spaces and wildlife habitats and was
becoming increasingly skilled in all aspects of conservation management.
His new skills led to a full-time job as a countryside warden with Guildford Borough
Council where he he still works today.
