Gilly joined the World in Need team in 2007 after a friend asked if she would be interested in helping this Christian charity as a volunteer. She began by playing a significant role in supporting the CEO, and soon moved to become a permanent member of staff. Since then she has offered her expertise and administrative support to our team for the past 15 years, serving as a constant source of advice and a reassuring presence.
Although Gilly hasn’t visited the World in Need projects, she has travelled to some of the poorest parts of the world, visiting children from the favelas in Brazil while staying for a month in a cottage with holes in the roof. Her experiences have given her insight and understanding of some of the conditions that those in poor areas are contending with, recalling that when staying in Brazil, “The mattress was directly under the holes.”
Having also spent time in Gambia and seeing the poverty first-hand Gilly recognises the challenges that many families around the world face and some of the environments that the World in Need Global Family work in, “I remember seeing what they have and haven’t got, and how they manage.” The compassion that Gilly has for those living in these conditions ties in directly with her work at WIN, as she says, "The work that World in Need does is so very important."
Gilly and her husband, John, sponsor a girl from Uganda through World in Need. “We took her sponsorship on as her previous sponsor could no longer manage it due to illness. We didn’t want her to have her schooling interrupted and she hopes to continue on to college. We felt that was so important,” explained Gilly.
“Working at World in Need has opened my eyes to a lot of things. They’re not big, which means things don’t get missed or lost. We have personal relationships with our partners and they are part of our family and our friends. We get to know them and feel like they’re your sister or brother.”
In May, it was the delight of the World in Need staff to share in celebrating Gilly’s 80th birthday. The office staff had a celebratory lunch and could reminisce about some of their times together and share their love for the WIN Global Family. Gilly shared a story of having Tamba from Sierra Leone to stay, giving him a two foot, six inch bed to sleep on, not realising until meeting him, that he is significantly taller and broader!
“It is so lovely to work here,” she said, “I love the work and the people; working in a Christian atmosphere is so nice. I thank God for my days at WIN, and would like to thank everyone that has been a part of my life here. If I could go back in time to when I was 21, I would join here earlier!”
Like all charities, World in Need is helped greatly through the efforts of volunteers that work behind the scenes, supporting our staff and raising money for our projects. We would like to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all the incredible volunteers who have selflessly dedicated their time, energy, and talents to World in Need. We want you to know that your dedication and generosity do not go unnoticed, or unappreciated.
The commitment of our volunteers to our Christian charity has touched the lives of many, bringing hope, joy, and a renewed sense of faith to those we serve. Your selflessness in giving your time and resources has made a profound impact on our mission, and we are incredibly grateful for your unwavering support. Your kindness, compassion, and willingness to serve others have been an inspiration to us all. We are blessed to have such an amazing team of volunteers, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a blessing to our organisation and the communities we serve.
If you would like to be part of the World in Need team by volunteering your time and talents, we would currently value your fundraising initiatives. Please get in touch with our team to discuss any ideas.
