A DEVOTED couple from Newtownards has combined their commitment to each other with a passion for volunteering.
David and Pauline Murdoch have been married for 30 years, and volunteer with the South Eastern Trust’s Wellness Recovery Network.
The Wellness Recovery Network delivers social and support groups as part of adult mental health services, providing safe, welcoming spaces for people to connect, share experiences and support their recovery journeys.
Pauline explained how their volunteering journey first began: “We started attending the Wellness Recovery Network because it was recommended through psychiatry services in Ards after David completed a recovery college course. He was invited along, but did not want to go on his own, so I went to the group with him.
“After several months, we both realised we were getting so much out of it. I could see such a difference in David and it was helping me too. We asked what more we could do and we were put in touch with volunteer services and we have not looked back since.”
David, who has published a poetry book dedicated to his wife, said volunteering in mental health services is deeply personal to him: “Mental health has a particular meaning for me. Nineteen years ago, I lost my mum to leukaemia. The stress around that time led me into severe clinical depression and I was very grateful for the help I received from the South Eastern Trust.
“Volunteering, especially within adult mental health services, is my opportunity to give something back.”
David and Pauline now volunteer across Wellness Recovery Network groups in Lisburn and Newtownards, supporting the co-ordinator and ensuring attendees feel welcomed and supported.
Pauline said: “We help greet everyone as they arrive, especially anyone new. Walking into somewhere unfamiliar can be very daunting, so we make sure people feel comfortable, introduce them to others and explain how the group works.
“If someone feels overwhelmed during a session, we will step outside with them for a chat and help them access the support they need. Sometimes it is just about being there and listening.”
The couple also represent the Network at community events, helping raise awareness of mental health support available across the Trust.
Volunteering together has taken on even deeper meaning for the pair, particularly after facing health challenges of their own.
David explained: “Life throws curveballs. Pauline went through cancer treatment a few years ago and became seriously ill with sepsis several times. I was told I could lose her.
“Then after I turned 50, I had a stroke. A doctor said to me, ‘You are a survivor, be happy about that. Lots of people are not’.
“When you go through things like that, it makes you think about life and what really matters. When you are married, you promise to spend your lives together in sickness and in health, so being able to volunteer together doing something we both love is very special.”
For the couple, giving their time has brought joy as well as perspective. Pauline reflected: “It is incredibly fulfilling. To see people come into the group when they are struggling and then reach a stage where they feel well enough to move on, maybe back to work or into a better place in life, that is just amazing.
“You are not sad not to see them anymore, but you know it is because they have got better and you have been part of that journey.”
Encouraging others to consider volunteering, Pauline said: “We love what we do. It is so rewarding, and you can give whatever time you have, it all makes a difference.”
As Valentine’s Day approached, David presented Pauline with an eternity ring, a symbol not only of their bond as husband and wife, but also of their love for their volunteer work.
If you are interested in Volunteering, contact the Team at volunteer@setrust.hscni.net or call (028) 9056 4817 to find out more.
