Volunteer Stories: Kevan
Follow our series of volunteer stories, here’s Kevan’s story.
Kevan found out about Caxton House through a local mental health support service, which he had begun attending after experiencing anxiety following redundancy. Kevan spent years working in the fashion industry so was drawn to Caxton House’s handicraft classes, where he could take part as well as help others.
After building relationships with the Caxton House team, Kevan got involved in the community kitchen. A group of members would attend cooking classes each week, decide on a main meal and dessert, and work together to cook. Even once the programme of classes had ended, Kevan volunteered, alongside some other members, to keep them going, having seen the positive effect they were having for those attending
Alongside Kevan’s role in the kitchen, he began running his own classes for the handicraft club, to share his experience and knowledge. Working with Caxton House, the club have turned often recycled material into beautiful pieces that they could take home, or give as gifts.
Kevan found a new passion in teaching, and has returned to college to gain a teaching qualification, to lead to a new career direction. Kevan now teaches two classes a week at Caxton House, sharing skills with many local people.
“Our community has not only been brought together through the classes we have all attended but during the periods of isolation during Covid, Caxton House continued to bring the community together to support and inspire each other. ”