SI Cannock hears about 40 years of volunteering
Jacky Gange, MBE was introduced as the speaker at the last Cannock Soroptimist meeting by Soroptimist Alison Murray who chaired the meeting.
Jacky was awarded the MBE in the 23/24 King’s New Year Honours List for services to the community in Cannock and her tireless work over 40 years at the Cannock Chase Advice Centre.
She told members how the Centre originally was set up by the TUC in the time of the Miners’ strike – when it closed, people missed it and so it opened again but this time to cater for everyone and no longer under the auspices of the TUC.
Jacky was keen to point out that she is a member of a team – a team of volunteers, currently managed by volunteers. She has been involved from the very beginning and was Manager for many years, stepping down from that role during Covid – though she still volunteers on a weekly basis.
The volunteers at the centre are very professional and handle any issue brought to them by a member of the community; a large part of their work is helping with completing benefit forms – which are not always easy to do! They work closely with local solicitors and will accompany people to meetings to seek the help they require.
Appointments are made at the Advice Centre for help with completion of various forms but otherwise, anyone needing help simply goes along to the Cannock Chase Advice Centre at 23 Park Road to access their Open Door policy. People go along to them often after being recommended by someone who has been helped previously, though the Job Centre and the Library will often send people along as they know they will find the help and advice they need.
Currently the centre opens on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings with 8 volunteers but know if they could offer more availability, the need is there. Anyone interested in volunteering should go along to the Centre and ask to speak with someone there.
The Centre runs thanks to a grant from Cannock Chase Council – to whom they submit an annual return in terms of number and type of case dealt with – and thanks to donations from individuals and local companies.
Soroptimist Val Jones gave the vote of thanks and presented Jacky with a donation which Soroptimists know will be appreciated and well used.
If you would like to find out more about how Soroptimists support women and girls, please visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/SICannock or their website: sigbi.org/cannock-and-district
