Published: 20th October 2025
Why Become a TMD Volunteer? - Carole's Story
"If you find the right charity, by that I mean one you believe passionately about, volunteering can be a greatly rewarding and fulfilling experience. When I retired earlier this year, I knew it would be important to have a sense of purpose, having worked most of my life. I didn’t want to sit around reading the papers, booking holidays and eating cake, I wanted to share my skills in the hope I could make some small difference. When I heard Founder and CEO Suzi Mitchell speak about the charity she created as a legacy to her son Taylor’s life, I immediately felt drawn to support the organisation. Suzi’s personal experience of a family facing the devastating news of a child being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness resonated deeply with me.
As a Theatre Producer, I could offer fundraising, events and communications experience along with a passion to make difficult times a little easier. Meeting the small, dedicated team and the wonderful group of volunteers confirmed my decision we were a good fit. Everyone is committed to supporting the charity, its services, and the families during unimaginably tough times. It is truly humbling to witness the strength, bravery, and grace shown by those caring for a very poorly child. Their resilience inspires you to do whatever you can to help.
Being part of the volunteer team at TMD feels like joining a family, united by a shared commitment to making a difference. We work together, combining our different skills to support families and fulfil their child’s wishes - whether it’s meeting a favourite comedian, shaking hands with a footballer, or jumping queues in Legoland. Every month, we hear about the families who have been supported by the charity, and it reminds us what a privilege it is working for Taylor-Made Dreams and just how meaningful our contributions are. Every hour given matters, and volunteers are always treated with genuine respect and gratitude - though we do it simply because we care.
The more volunteers we have, the more awareness we can create, the more money we can raise and the more families we can support. Please come and talk to any one of us to find out more. You won’t regret it, I promise!"
Carole Winter, TMD Volunteer (Pictured above, centre)
Find out more about volunteering with Taylor-Made Dreams on our volunteering page: www.taylormadedreams.org.uk/volunteering
