From Lake (District) to Poole – a Plunge into Volunteering

PUBLISHED - 4th December 2025

This year 44 guests have enjoyed one of our Torch Together holidays and the feedback has been very encouraging. A large part of that success is down to our amazing volunteers who play a vital role in each holiday. This year we were especially grateful to have two new volunteers, Phil and Bren Thompson. Becky Davies spoke to them about their experience.

When we were unexpectedly short of volunteers for the first holiday of the season we had the idea of contacting the local churches near The Greenhouse Centre in Poole to see if anyone could join us. We all prayed as a staff team that God would provide the volunteers that we needed and then we waited.

Gateway Church were one of the few churches to reply to say that they had advertised our need. Phil says, “There was a request from Torch that came into church and was in the weekly mailer. They spoke of the need for helpers at the upcoming Poole holiday and both Bren and I were immediately interested. 

We looked in our diaries and saw it clashed with the dates we had set aside for our two weeks camping in the Lake District, so dismissed the idea as that really is a highlight of our year.”

However, a week or so later they made the difficult decision to cancel their holiday. Phil told me that he had been unwell earlier in the year and just felt that he couldn’t face the long drive to Cumbria, as well as setting up their tent. They wondered if the Torch holiday they had heard about might still be an option so they sent Torch an email.

I remember receiving the email and thinking that it was good news, but how were we going to get two new volunteers through the whole volunteer process as well as the training that they would be required at such short notice. I didn’t need to worry as Phil and Bren completed everything in record time and all the checks and training were done with time to spare.

As soon as I met Phil and Bren on the first day I knew they were going to fit in perfectly. We had agreed that they didn’t need to stay over as they lived in Poole, only a few minutes away from The Greenhouse Centre! They not only joined us each day but arrived early enough for prayers before breakfast and stayed for each evening’s entertainment. They both got fully stuck into the holiday and served the guests brilliantly. Phil said, “The trips out each day were not a surprise to us, having lived and worked locally for 40 years, but it was so good meeting all the guests and helpers. It was good to spend time with different individuals or couples each day, getting to know them and their particular level of need. Often simple things that just facilitated them getting the most out of a situation. And I even coped with a whole afternoon at a local shopping centre – an activity I have not done very often in those 40 years!”

Phil’s involvement with Torch hasn’t ended with the holiday. Phil told me, “I was interested to hear that one of the other helpers was involved in reading audio books and articles for Torch Trust. I asked what was involved and am now towards the end of recording a twelve chapter book. I’m hoping it will be to an acceptable level when I submit it, but either way I have enjoyed the process so far.” 

We are so grateful to God for his provision. His plan and timing are perfect. As Phil writes, “I don’t like getting sick, but we are pleased the way circumstances conspired to prompt us to fill the gap and enable us to be part of the holiday. A great experience.”