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We meet Darren, an area lead at Andy’s Man Club, and hear how a simple Monday night space helps men take the hardest step: walking through the door and speaking honestly. We talk about stigma, purpose after retirement or bereavement, and how volunteering can turn lived experience into support for someone else.
• the origin story of Andy’s Man Club and why it started in 2016
• how the groups work across the UK and why demand keeps rising
• the “threshold” moment for men who are struggling and how a sweeper helps
• stigma and generational attitudes to men opening up
• retirement, loss and the need for connection and purpose
• the path from attendee to volunteer facilitator and what good facilitation looks like
• support available to facilitators including counselling options
• Mission Possible fundraising and simple ways to get involved
• confidentiality, safeguarding and why there is no register or referralPlease don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe.
Also if you would like too find our more about "Andy's Man Club" please click on the following linwww.andysmanclub.co.uk.
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You can have a lifetime of work behind you and still feel like a beginner again, especially when you finally have time to face the hobbies you parked years ago. We lean into that moment, the mix of excitement and doubt, and ask a simple question: how do you start making art or music when you’re convinced you’re “not that person”?
We sit down with David and Joe Dunwell to talk honestly about learning music as an adult, the fear of failure, and why it helps to decide what you want music for. Maybe it’s mastering scales and songwriting craft, or maybe it’s learning a handful of songs to play at home for friends. We also get practical about confidence building through open mic nights, showing up before you perform, and using YouTube and local beginner lessons to get the first tools in your hands.
Then we head to the North York Moors to meet artist Sue Slack, whose work is shaped by landscape, colour, and the changing light. She shares down-to-earth ways to begin drawing again, focusing on small subjects, making a little time each day, and experimenting without demanding perfection. We also talk about why joining an art group can be a powerful antidote to isolation in retirement, giving you both motivation and like-minded company.
If you’re searching for retirement hobbies, creative retirement ideas, beginner guitar advice, open mic confidence, or beginner drawing and painting tips, this is a warm push towards action. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a nudge, and leave us a review, what creative thing will you try this week?If you would like a go at Painting you contact Sue on
http://www.sueslack.co.uk/
Too find out more info about The Dunwells follow the link below
https://www.thedunwells.com/
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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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We head to Sutton Bank on the North York Moors to find out what it really takes to keep a national park healthy, welcoming and protected. We meet the people making it happen, from volunteer managers planning for decades of restoration to a retired teacher rebuilding dry stone walls that could stand for 200 years.
• Sutton Bank as a base for cycling, walks, dark sky events and all-access routes
• The hidden layers of the moors, from wildlife habitats to archaeology and community projects
• What a national park protects, and why it is for everybody
• Who volunteers, what motivates them, and how flexible roles can be
• Youth ranger days, school outreach, River Esk Reconnect work and virtual walks for care homes
• Moorland fire recovery, peat restoration, and the long timeline of “wetter is better”
• How the park tries to remove barriers, from transport to welfare facilities
• Paul’s volunteering journey, skills training, public-facing ranger support and the pride of leaving a lasting legacy
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode.Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We spend an evening with Kitchens For Everyone York to understand how a volunteer-run kitchen serves hot meals with dignity for people who are homeless or in vulnerable situations. We hear how outreach, teamwork, and small acts of welcome create purpose for volunteers and real connection for guests.
• why extra time in retirement can feel unsettling, and why volunteering fills the gap
• what Kitchens For Everyone York does, from sit-down meals to street outreach
• how the charity started, how it is funded, and why donations stretch further without paid staff
• how a Wednesday service runs, from orders and hot drinks to food served at tables
• volunteer roles that do not require cooking skills, from prep to tea and coffee
• what outreach looks like, including safety, pairs, routes, and checking on regulars
• what volunteers say they get back, from purpose and gratitude to new friendships across ages
do check out your local food kitchen and see if you can go and give them a hand.
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe.Also if you would like too find our more about the "Food Kitchen" please click on the following link https://kitchenforeveryoneyork.org/
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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We join Yorkshire Cricket Club to explore why cricket feels like a lifelong community and why it matters even more when retirement leaves you with extra time. We talk with Yorkshire cricket volunteers about simple ways to get involved, even if you no longer play, and why grassroots clubs survive when people choose to muck in together.
• finding purpose and routine after retirement through community sport
• why cricket creates a stronger sense of place than many sports
• rebuilding village cricket by solving small problems fast
• volunteering options beyond playing, from teas to social media
• getting started with coaching, club support, and foundation help
• reducing intimidation for parents and first-time volunteers
• the growth of girls’ cricket and the need for helpers
• how umpiring works, what courses exist, and why leagues need more officials
• what volunteers get back, from belonging to being “still in the game”
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode.
Also if you would like to support the podcast then please feel free to donate to the podcast to help out everything is much appreciated, thank youSupport the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We visit Breezy Knees Gardens near York and meet co-owner Colin Parker, who turns open fields into a 20-acre garden and shares why purpose matters more than any retirement plan. We also hear from volunteers and visitors about friendship, mindfulness, and the quiet joy of being outside even when you don’t know a single plant name.
• Colin’s leap from pharmacy work to building Breezy Knees Gardens
• Designing a major garden through trial, error and stubborn optimism
• Why opening to the public keeps the project alive
• The range of visitors from experts to total beginners
• How volunteering works and why enthusiasm beats experience
• Volunteer routines through the seasons and the friendships that form
• A place to unwind with workshops, theatre and accessible paths
• Mindfulness moments by the lake and the value of simple calm
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode.If you are interested in what you have listened to on this weeks Podcast then please click on the links below to find out more information on Breezy Knees and also "Grey Matters More" Thank You for listening.
https://www.breezyknees.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/breezykneesgardens
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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We tour the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu to uncover why cars carry such emotional weight and how volunteering turns that passion into purpose. From early EVs to modern hybrids, we look at how the collection stays relevant while volunteers keep heritage alive.
• origins of Beaulieu from five cars to national trust
• cars as freedom, memory and status across a lifetime
• evolving relevance from 1950s classics to 1990s icons
• EV and hybrid milestones added to the collection
• volunteers enabling tours, cataloguing and restoration
• finding friends, structure and joy after retirement
• research into Racing Pride and women in motor sport
• reference library digitising brochures for open access
• plans for redevelopment and heritage skills training
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode
You can also find more details of the Motor Museum on the link belowhttps://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We walk with the Ramblers to explore how simple steps turn into community, confidence, and real protection for Britain’s paths. Stephen and Vicky share how volunteering, inclusivity, and gentle advocacy keep people walking and our rights of way alive.
• Ramblers as a national charity for access and group walks
• Campaigning for paths and the England Coast Path
• Why neglected footpaths disappear without use
• Volunteer roles from walk leading to research
• How to plan and recce routes with OS Maps
• Inclusive pacing and options for all abilities
• Light training, shared responsibility, safety basics
• Confidence building for new leaders
• Right to roam explained for UK nations
• Nature, calm, and mental wellbeing on the trail
• How to find a local group and get started
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode
If you are keen on the podcast above and want to join the ramblers, please click the following link for all the details on how to get involved. https://www.ramblers.org.uk/Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We explore how movement, community, and small, brave choices can turn the empty space of retirement into a routine filled with purpose, health, and friends. From paddle and pickleball to Pilates, our guests share practical ways to build strength, confidence, and connection.
• balancing enjoyment with structured activity for health and mood
• accessible sports like paddle and pickleball lowering barriers
• social connection as protection against isolation
• starting from zero and forming new habits in your spare time
• training movements safely with injuries and joint pain
• Pilates for posture, core strength, balance, and mobility
• time–health–wealth triangle as a retirement lens
• mixing solo focus with group energy to stay consistentIf you would like to find out more about David Lloyd, then please follow the link below.
Thank you for taking the time to listen, and please feel free to leave a review and send a message.
https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/clubs/york/
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We visit Malton Museum to learn how a small, volunteer-run collection turns two rooms into a living archive, linking a Roman cavalry fort to today’s racing town. Volunteers share how outreach, oral history, and tours keep heritage alive while offering purpose and skills.
• why time after big life changes can fuel volunteering
• how a two-room museum curates 20,000 artefacts
• front-of-house, collections, exhibitions and outreach roles
• recording living memory for future generations
• school sessions with a Roman legionary and handling kits
• adult walking tours on Romans, brewing, racing and Georgian streets
• the value of volunteer hours to the local economy
• Roman cavalry roots and the modern racing industry
• a chance Roman coin hoard and its research impact
• digital booking, festivals and growing new programmes
• pride of place, new skills and social bonds
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episodeIf you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard and are keen to get involved, please click the link below.
https://www.maltonmuseum.co.uk/get-involved/Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We visit North Cave Wetlands to see how a former quarry is becoming a thriving reserve and how volunteering can restore both landscapes and a sense of purpose. Marie from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Emma, a long-time volunteer, share roles, training, and stories that make getting involved easy and rewarding.
• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s scale, history, and 115 reserves
• How North Cave Wetlands grew from quarry to haven
• Volunteer roles from habitat work to education
• Livestock checking and conservation grazing explained
• Public engagement at Spurn lighthouse and Living Seas Centre
• Training in ID skills, surveys, peatland, and youth work
• Office and digital roles for all abilities
• Finding meaning after retirement through nature and community
• The UK-wide Wildlife Trusts federation and advocacy power
• Practical steps to start small and get involved
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode
If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard and are keen to get involved, please click the links below.https://www.ywt.org.uk/get-involved
https://www.ywt.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We board HMS Belfast to explore how volunteers keep history alive at Imperial War Museums, from front-of-house storytelling to steel conservation and remote research. Eugene, Nicole, Joseph and Christine share how purpose, skills and community grow when people give time.
• IWM’s focus on social history and human stories of conflict
• Why HMS Belfast relies on volunteers for daily conservation
• Discovery roles and hands-on history for visitor engagement
• Remote digital projects open to worldwide volunteers
• Simple application windows and supportive induction
• Personal benefits: confidence, purpose, friendships, mental health
• Nicole on flexible monthly volunteering and soft skills
• Joseph on conserving original materials and documenting changes
• Christine on schools work, sensory access and lifelong learning
• Hosts reflect on immersive exhibits and free entry at Lambeth
If you have some spare time and fancy volunteering at the Imperial War Museums, then click on the link below.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/volunteer
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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Following the dream,
Trying something that you have always wanted to do. This episode discovering how to become a writer and living in the wild. With advice from special guests Richard D Rhodes and Jamie from Howlbushcraft.
See below on their You Tube videos about the Ramblers Discover the joy of a Ramblers group walk "It's paradise": Our Community Champions in the Cairngorms. The Out There Award, summer 2025
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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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You cannot better seeing a wagging tail. We go behind the scenes at the Blue Cross to discover just how to keep our four legged friends safe and happy.
If you want to get involved with the Blue Cross team please follow the link below
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/get-involved
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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We often think some events are impossible. They will never happen to us. However, that’s not always the case. We’ll delve behind the scenes at York Food Bank to discover the importance of organisations like this.
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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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This episode.. Time travelling through history. Getting your hands dirty and becoming a part of a team of fellow travellers.
Extra information if wanting to Volunteer go to the following link
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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If you’ve ever fancied joining a football club, whatever your age or ability, we’ve got the answer to your dreams.
Again, If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard and are keen to get involved, please click the link below.
https://yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/volunteers/
Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
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A new podcast reveals a time rich army of volunteers and people embracing new challenges as they take on the retirement years.
Many people dream of retirement but the reality of giving up work can often be stressful and traumatic. Boredom, loss of status and depression can kick in after you've clocked off for the last time.
A brand new podcast series focuses on ways of tackling one of the most challenging transitions many of us ever face.
Grey Matters More has been produced by three recently retired friends whose credits include the BBC, ITN, Sky, and much more. They have all faced the sudden realisation of retirement and the ups and downs it can bring. They talk from personal experience.Support the show
If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.
