Photo: One of my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups setting – volunteering often happens behind the scenes.
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A group of fourteen-year-olds setting off on their first unaided two-day Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition is quite a responsibility. They must navigate unfamiliar paths, cook their own meals, pitch tents, and somehow reach the finish in one piece.
Every time I take a group out, I ask myself the same question: why am I doing this?
By the end of the weekend, I always have the answer. Watching them figure things out, solve problems, and finish with a real sense of achievement brings a deep sense of satisfaction.
It got me thinking: I know what I get from volunteering, but what do other retirees get from it—and what keeps them saying yes?
So, I decided to put those questions to other retirees and see what we might learn from their experiences.
For the first instalment of this new series – ‘Other Voices: Giving Back’- I spoke to Stephanie, a retired GP who volunteers as a Guide Dog Puppy Raiser – and to Jo, whose story takes us somewhere rather different.
Photo: Stephanie, with her new Guide Dog puppy Trudi
Giving Back One Puppy at a Time: Stephanie’s Story
Meet Stephanie
Stephanie – a retired GP – shares her experience of volunteering as a Guide Dog Puppy Raiser. In her own words, she reflects on the realities of raising a future guide dog and the sense of purpose it brings to her retirement.
1. What is your volunteer role, and what does it involve week to week?
I’m a Guide Dog Puppy Raiser. We take puppies at eight weeks old and care for them until they move on to further training at around 12–18 months. Each week we work on helping them become confident, well-mannered and calm in public, including travelling on public transport.
We socialise them in different environments, attend monthly puppy classes, and follow guidance from our puppy adviser. At first, they’re like babies—learning to toilet properly, sleep through the night, and settle in the car. We initially feed them four times a day, gradually reducing to twice daily.
We also keep their sponsors updated with photos and progress reports, take them to the vet when needed, and stay connected with other puppy raisers through WhatsApp and local meet-ups.
2. How did you first hear about this voluntary role?
I heard a puppy raiser speak at my church, and it immediately caught my interest.
3. What made you decide to apply or say ‘yes’?
We had lost our rescue dog a year earlier and didn’t want another long-term commitment. I’d been a GP and had cared for people who used guide dogs, so I’d seen how life-changing they can be.
My mum also had visual impairment, so I understood some of the challenges first hand. My husband is a retired vet, so we felt confident we could manage any puppy health issues—though we always remind ourselves that the puppies aren’t ours.
4. Before you started, what did you expect the role to be like — and how does this compare to reality?
We’d never raised a puppy before. I expected it to be similar to having our rescue dogs, but I underestimated how much work it would be.
At first it’s like having a baby—the broken sleep was definitely a shock! You also feel a different sense of responsibility because the puppy isn’t yours permanently. But seeing the training progress and watching the puppy develop is incredibly rewarding.
5. What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
Watching the puppies grow into well-trained, confident dogs and eventually seeing them matched with guide dog owners. It’s wonderful to see their little personalities emerge, and to know you’ve played a small part in changing someone’s life.
6. What has surprised you most about the role?
The scale of the charity and how much work goes into supporting people with visual impairment.
I’m continually impressed by the patience of our puppy adviser, and it’s lovely how often strangers stop us on the street to show their support. Puppies are wonderful conversation starters!
7. How does this role fit into your retirement life — does it give you structure, purpose, social contact, something else?
It gives a real sense of purpose and satisfaction. I still get the joy of having a dog in my life, even if it’s temporary, and it feels meaningful to be helping someone who will eventually rely on that dog.
8. If you stopped tomorrow, what would you miss most?
I’d miss the puppy greeting me in the morning, the cuddles, playtime, and our regular walks. It’s wonderful exercise, and the daily routines and companionship would be very hard to give up.
9. Would you recommend volunteering to other retirees — and why?
Absolutely. It gives you routine, purpose, camaraderie, and the satisfaction of helping others. It also reminds you that you still have valuable skills and experience to offer, even in retirement.
10. What would you say to someone who thinks they have nothing to offer as a volunteer?
There’s a volunteer role out there for everyone—and it can be great fun. You can use the skills you already have or learn new ones, give something back to your community, and experience the joy of being needed.
About Stephanie
Stephanie is a retired GP who spent 25 years as a partner in a rural practice in Cambridgeshire. Alongside general practice, she specialised in family planning and sexual health and trained other doctors in these areas. Since retiring in 2018, she has remained active in her community through church projects, creative groups, and charitable work supporting children’s education in Chennai.
In her own words ‘Each of these experiences has enriched my retirement and kept me connected to both my local and global communities.’
If Stephanie’s story reflects the nurturing side of volunteering, Jo’s takes us into a very different—and less visible—world.
Giving Back in Unexpected Places: Jo’s Story
Meet Jo
After a 40-year career in the NHS, Jo now volunteers in one of the most unusual—and challenging—roles you’ve probably never heard of: visiting detainees in police custody as an Independent Custody Visitor.
1. What is your volunteer role, and what does it involve week to week?
There is a legal requirement—introduced following the Brixton riots in 1981—for police cell detainees to be visited on a frequent and regular basis.
Working in pairs, we make unannounced visits to check that detainees are being treated appropriately and that conditions requirements are being met.
Some weeks this can take several hours (I am a lead for Cambridge); other weeks, very little time.
2. How did you first hear about this voluntary role?
I saw a newspaper advertisement shortly after retiring.
3. What made you decide to apply or say ‘yes’?
I enjoy the community in which I live and felt I could use this role to “give back” and be useful.
When I researched the role, it sounded interesting and, after 40 years of working for the NHS, I felt my life skills would be useful in the ICV role.
4. Before you started, what did you expect the role to be like — and how does this compare to reality?
I expected a certain amount of learning on the job—but nothing really prepares you for going into a police cell block. There was an element of facing the unknown, a level of trepidation, but also a real curiosity about police procedures.
Within police cells, not everyone is guilty of committing a crime—they are often being held while investigations take place. We observe, not participate, so I had to adjust my way of thinking.
I expected the role to be interesting—and it is. What I hadn’t foreseen was how much my respect for the police would increase. I also meet an extremely broad spectrum of the community.
5. What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
In the ICV role, we do sometimes make a difference.
Sanitary products are now always available in every police station, and reading glasses are on hand—both due to recommendations by ICVs. There are also many smaller measures that, while simple, can be very important to a detainee.
Most visits are routine, but occasionally we can make a real difference—helping someone cope in what can be a very scary and stressful situation. Detainees often thank us for providing neutral oversight of police activity.
6. What has surprised you most about the role?
I’ve become more involved and committed than I expected, and I’ve learned far more than I ever anticipated.
I now understand much more about police procedures and have met a wider cross-section of the community than I imagined. My respect for the police has definitely increased, and I’ve seen things I never expected to see.
7. How does this role fit into your retirement life — does it give you structure, purpose, social contact, something else?
It takes up more time—by choice—than I had foreseen. As an ICV lead, there are additional responsibilities, but also real rewards, such as meeting a wide range of people, from students to fellow retirees.
It definitely gives me a sense of purpose. Being awarded “Volunteer of the Year 2024” by Cambridgeshire Constabulary was both unexpected and very gratifying.
8. If you stopped tomorrow, what would you miss most?
I had a break of three months for health and family reasons, and I really missed the people I work with and the sense of being useful to the community.
(The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner staff who run the scheme were very supportive during that time.)
9. Would you recommend volunteering to other retirees — and why?
Volunteering isn’t for everyone.
After working all their lives, some people simply want to enjoy themselves. Others feel they want to give back to their community. Neither approach is wrong.
Volunteering works for me, but it doesn’t make me a better or worse person than someone who chooses to focus on home, family, or new interests outside of volunteering.
10. What would you say to someone who thinks they have nothing to offer as a volunteer?
That’s easy —“Bet you do.”
We aren’t all brain surgeons or political leaders, but everyone has their own unique set of skills. The key is finding a voluntary role that makes you happy and comfortable.
Volunteering covers a huge spectrum of roles—from driving people to hospital appointments, to raising a puppy for Guide Dogs, to visiting people in custody.
If you want to volunteer, find your niche and give it a go—but only if you want to, not because you feel you ought to.
About jo
Jo is a retired NHS professional and currently volunteers as an Independent Custody Visitor in Cambridgeshire – where she also serves as a local lead – as well as being a welfare visitor for police dogs.
final thought
Different roles, different experiences—but the reasons for saying yes – to volunteering – are strikingly similar: purpose, connection, and the chance to feel useful.
getting involved
If either of these roles has sparked your interest, here’s where to find out more:
guide dog puppy raiser
If you are based in the UK:
Similar charities can be found around the world, for example:
🔗 Guiding Eyes for the Blind & Guide Dogs for the Blind (USA)
🔗 CNIB Guide Dogs & Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides (CANADA)
🔗 Guide Dogs Australia (AUSTRALIA)
(Guide Dog Puppy Raiser may also be known locally as “Puppy Walker” or “Puppy Foster Parent”.)
Independent Custody Visitor
The specific ICV role exists only in the UK (see link below), but similar oversight roles exist internationally.
🔗 Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) – icva.org.uk and use the “Find a Scheme” tool
International links:
🔍 USA – you might look for “Police Oversight Commissions”
🔍 Canada – you might look for “Police Oversight Agencies”
🔍 Australia – you might look for “Official Visitor”
📝 CLOSING AUTHOR NOTE
My thanks to Stephanie and Jo for sharing their experiences so openly. It’s a reminder that volunteering takes many different forms, but the common thread is the same: giving your time and energy will often give you far more back than you expect.
I’d love to hear your volunteering story. What do you do, and what keeps you involved?
If you don’t currently volunteer, I’d also be interested to know what might be holding you back.
Feel free to share in the comments or email me directly:
| rookieretiree@btinternet.com |
OUT OF TIME – Unfortunately we’ve run out of time for the other features this month but I’ll catch up with your questions next time.
Future Blog Contents
Next month’s blog we’re going to explore the Retirement Spending Paradox; why do we need to consider changing the habits of a lifetime – shifting from saver to spender.
Every chapter of the Rookie Retiree Journal explores a different side of life after full-time work — from personal stories to health, purpose and travel.
Want to explore a little further?
👉 New here? Start with the WELCOME PAGE
👉 Looking for something else? View the full CONTENTS PAGE
👉 Read related items on this topic here:
Regards
Phil Marsh is the creator of Rookie Retiree, exploring life after work — the choices, challenges and possibilities that come with the luxury of choice.
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