Lawrence Curtis

A VOLUNTEER of the Year says he is “heartbroken” after finding himself having to appeal for funding to pay himself a small salary.

Lawrence Curtis runs Healthy Mind, Healthy Bods (HMHB), a group that runs social events and walks for people in need.

He was named as Volunteer of the Year by Voluntary Action Islington, but says he’s struggling to get the funding he needs to keep things going.

Mr Curtis said: “I’ve been doing this for seven years, and for seven years I’ve not had a salary. I’m on universal credit, but I’m at the point now where they’re going to start hassling me to get a job.

“I’m in the position now that it is possible that they could say to me this year, ‘Look, you know, you’re on your credit, you need to be working, earning money, here’s a job’. So the funding we’re trying to raise here is actually to give me a part-time salary of £650 per month which isn’t a lot.”

Mr Curtis says that he has helped 150 people in the past year, and as he runs the group almost completely alone he’s helped them personally.

The organisation was set up through his own battle of depression and noticing that “fun” was never a part of the treatment, adding: “I just wanted it to be fun, a bit more interactive, and have opportunities just to get out. I wanted to meet up with people and have a normal conversation, rather than just always talking about what’s going on.”

He added: “When I came through depression, I found one of the things was I was very isolated. Bringing people together is great, and you notice the difference in people, it’s incredible.”