Life of A Volunteer - Lennypop From Lollipop

Hi, I'm Lennypop from Lollipop!

Let me tell you a quick little bit about myself and why I think being a Radio Lollipop Volunteer for the children in Great Ormond Street Hospital is the best decision I have ever made and it feels like it was something I was always meant to do.

My main occupation for years was as a telecoms engineer, fixing broken fibre cables in the street, but my real love was entertaining children and adults of all ages. My biggest love is music, of all kinds, and I used to play my vinyl records at weddings, birthdays and celebrations as a mobile DJ in and around the outskirts of London. My love of music also got me into radio presenting at my local hospital in Hertfordshire and that led into volunteering and fundraising for a few local charities.

I also do comedy magic shows for kids as a children's entertainer which makes me laugh, even if the kids don't always get my jokes. I have done a fair bit of travelling up and down the U.K. and around Europe in various types of transport, from small family cars right up to the large motorhome I have now.

More recently I have been involved in supporting my colleagues at work which basically means listening to them and trying to help with any issues they might have. I also record video podcasts with my work colleagues where we talk about their lives, their interests and their motivations.

So basically, I feel that everything I have got involved in and learned over the years, has helped me in the work I do now with Radio Lollipop. I love the fact that everyone in the organisation is dedicated to using their own particular skills and talents to make the children in Great Ormond Hospital either laugh, smile or just feel a bit better themselves.

If you asked me what the most important qualities are needed to be a Radio Lollipop volunteer ward visitor I would say a positive mind set, lots of patience and calmness, a slightly childish sense of humour is helpful, but most importantly the ability to talk, connect and engage with the children at their level as well as their parents and guardians.

If you asked be what my biggest joy is being Radio Lollipop volunteer it is literally bringing a smile to a child's face, which is always easy, considering most children don't necessarily want to be in hospital, but we have developed many ways to cheer them up. What we're doing, I have discovered, is Play Therapy, which I didn't realise was a thing before I joined Radio Lollipop. We have lots games such as Dobble, Uno, Jenga, Connect4, Snakes & Ladders, mostly games I am hopeless at but that raises a laugh too.

I have become known for taking my trusty ukulele with me and playing nursery rhymes, lullabies and cheerful upbeat tunes, (even K-Pop Demon Hunters) which are mostly well received, although a few of the kids will let me know that ukulele is not their thing by putting their fingers in their ears. Anyone can be a critic, I guess.

So, I hope that gives you a bit of an idea of who I am and what I'm about, but I should quickly mention that I absolutely love the rest of the Magic Monday crew that I have the absolute honour to work alongside. They are all funny and kind and clever and most of all, inspiring, which I think is one of the biggest reasons we keep coming back and doing it, as well as that magic moment when we are able to turn a kid's frowns into a beaming smile.

So, if you see me up on the wards with my ukulele, please say "Hi Lennypop".