Michael's weekly Move Mate walks with volunteer Jordan have made a real difference to his life
Jordan has been a Move Mate volunteer since 2022 and first started walking with Michael over a year ago.
By Omolara Okunoren
Due to an operation in 2006, Michael has mobility issues. He finds it difficult to walk around and cannot go out as often. A local health and well-being advisor recommended Move the Masses to Michael. He paired with Jordan in December 2022.
Before joining Move Mates, Jordan was a student and decided to take a gap year after the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to take up volunteering instead. Jordan found out about Move the Masses while searching on the internet for volunteering opportunities. She has been a Move Mate since 2022 and has been paired with two beneficiaries.
Michael looks forward to these walks as he’s “an old man but Jordan is an outgoing and interesting lady, who walks with him.” Also, he cannot walk very far and fast because of his mobility problems. However, Jordan is very patient as a move-mate.
Jordan did not expect that being a Move Mate would impact her life so much. It has changed her life for the better. It is one of the best parts of her week. Jordan enjoys hearing about Michael’s life and his family. They share similar interests and have developed a real bond.
These walks have been a helpful and important part of Michael’s life. Having a Move Mate ensures that he has someone to walk with once a week. It allows Michael to enjoy having a verbal context with someone who’s outside his life. Also, it helps him move around more.
Whilst walking together on Fridays, Michael and Jordan enjoy talking about modern history. They have a particular walk that they follow. They stop halfway through to have a coffee or breakfast. Michael enjoys conversations about their lives and hearing about the interesting things that Jordan does. Jordan enjoys their morning walks. They make her mornings slower and she gets to spend quality time with Michael. It has been a pleasure getting to know him.
Michael thinks that Move Mates is a fantastic service. He has spoken to other people about it, who have also expressed interest in becoming a beneficiary. He would say to anyone asking to be paired with a Move Mate that it is “a fantastic help for individuals, who need help and so important.”
“One thing that you’ll regret is not doing it sooner as it’s incredible what one walk can do for someone. You don’t realise this at all.”
Jordan, Move Mate