A Suffolk sixth-former gave a moving speech to 60 golfers about her volunteering as a friend to elderly people living in a Sudbury care home. Many of the residents have dementia.
Seventeen-year-old Emily Ward started volunteering with YOPEY during the pandemic.
During the pandemic, she was writing letters and compiling activities, such as word searches, for elderly care home residents throughout the UK. Since lockdowns ended she has been visiting residents at a Sudbury care home.
She was invited by YOPEY founder Tony Gearing MBE to give a speech to 60 golfers taking part in a charity day, in aid of YOPEY, at Gosfield Lake Golf Club, across the Essex border from Sudbury.
Tony said: “Without notes, Emily spoke confidently and with passion about befriending the elderly with dementia for about 10 minutes. I was blown away by her eloquence and how she made an audience – much older than herself – understand what YOPEY is and what its teenage volunteers do.”
Gosfield Lake golf club captain Lea Turner said: “All present were very impressed with the way that Emily spoke. Several of them said to me how good it was to hear such encouraging words from a young person and that they were moved by her performance.”
Emily said afterwards: “I spoke about reasons why I love being a YOPEY Befriender. The main reason being able to make people smile – something which I cherish dearly.
“I engaged with my feelings to make the speech as real and genuine as possible. Everything I said came from my heart, and I was honoured to be able to make this short presentation.
“Numerous members of the golf club approached me after my speech to thank me. One man told me that the speech meant a lot as his mother had just moved into a care home.”
A spokesperson for the care home Emily visits said: “Emily comes into our home to chat with residents and do activities with them. We think she is lovely.”
During Les’s year as captain, Gosfield Lake golf club raised over £4,000 for YOPEY.
If you know a golf club that would like to fundraise for YOPEY, please contact YOPEY.