'It's reassuring to know one person isn't anxious about their food this week'

Shopping volunteer Ross was interested in volunteering because, as a musician he works mainly in the evening and had some spare time in the day.  Age UK Barnet particularly appealed to him because getting older happens to all of us and he believes it's something we should all look forward to.

'I started out as a stand in shopping volunteer – so I’d swoop in when the regular volunteer was ill or away. I’m the emergency guy with a car.

'I’ve shopped for 4 or 5 different people but I’m now seeing one person regularly because their volunteer is away working overseas.

'The more you shop for people the more you understand their choices, what’s important to them. For instance, one client likes the pork loins with marbling in. This matters to him. It’s important to assume that not any pork loin will do. It’s dehumanising. I encourage people to be specific, and I ask the right questions so people feel they’re being heard.

'My volunteering has become just something that I do, simply part of my normal weekly routine. One Tuesday I go to the gym, on Thursday I do a shop…. it’s just the way my timetable works. It’s rare that I’m aware I’m volunteering.

'It’s just part of my life - I’m not impressed with myself. That said, it’s reassuring to know that one person is not anxious about their food each week.

'I don’t expect a reward but I was really touched when someone made a lovely plant holder for me. I was just covering for their regular shopper who was away for a while and I simply dropped off 4 pints of milk each week. What was really peculiar was I’d just been looking on ebay to buy exactly that myself! The fact they’d taken the time to do this really got to me..'