Volunteer Spotlight: Sara Thampi

Sara joined TimeGivers through Harrow Voluntary Action, looking for new volunteer opportunities after many years away from working with young people.

Since then, she has fully embraced every opportunity to get involved. Over the past year, Sara has taken part in a wide range of TimeGivers activities across schools and community projects, building strong relationships with young people and local partners. She has also travelled across different boroughs to support sessions, consistently showing enthusiasm, reliability and commitment.

One particularly special moment came when Sara supported a litter pick at Hatch End, her former secondary school. Having left in 1994, she returned decades later to volunteer alongside students in the same place she once attended. It was a full-circle moment that beautifully reflected the long-lasting connection between people, place and community.

Sara’s journey is a great example of how volunteering can reconnect people with their local area in unexpected and meaningful ways, while inspiring the next generation to get involved.

From Returning to Volunteering to Building Confidence

Sara spoke about how her experience with TimeGivers has shaped her personally:

“It has really improved my confidence, exposed me to many different community projects and helped me understand the world from a child’s viewpoint.”

Why Volunteering Matters for Young People

For Sara, one of the most important aspects of TimeGivers is the impact it has on young people and their sense of agency:

“There are so many benefits. Volunteering enables them to claim ownership of their future world. It helps them realise the choices they make are crucial to shaping their society and the planet’s fate.”

“Young people often don’t notice how impactful their actions are until they start helping their local community.”

A Memorable Moment

One experience that stayed with Sara came during a litter pick at Hatch End school:

“A pupil really enjoyed the activity and said he would love to receive a litter picker for his birthday, and Harrow Litter Pickers gifted him one. His enrichment teacher was thrilled as he was the last pupil she expected to show an interest in the activity.”

“Young people can often surprise us when given the opportunity to help their local community.”

Why TimeGivers?

Sara enjoys the variety and energy of the programme and the people she meets along the way:

“I love the wide variety of activities and beneficiaries, the amazing personalities of the children and meeting my fellow volunteers.”

Sara’s story highlights the power of returning to your community and discovering new ways to contribute. Her enthusiasm, openness and commitment make her a valued part of the TimeGivers volunteer network.

Originally featured in our February 2026 newsletter, this spotlight celebrates the volunteers who help bring our programmes to life across schools and communities.

TimeGivers Volunteer Spotlight: Sara Thampi | February 2026