I have been a volunteer at Willow Wood for ten years. One day each week I help the patients in the START Clinic with arts and crafts. Over the years we have worked on various projects such as book folding, card making and silk painting.

Our most ambitious project, which took around six weeks, was making a three foot high hollow elephant from papier mache. This was for a project based on the phrase 'an elephant in the room' where patients were encouraged to write down their thoughts and feelings and post them inside the elephant.

I was also involved in a project for 'Dying Matters' week, where patients visiting the START Clinic made a picture based on 'seasons of life' which was entered into a competition and was one of the winners. This was displayed at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.

I look forward to my visits to Willow Wood where, over the years, I have been privileged to meet some lovely people and work alongside other volunteers and staff.