
One of the reasons I chose to move to this area from Leicester in 2022, was because of the Leisure Centre, and I made very good use of the early morning swimming sessions! People in Deepcar and Stocksbridge were so kind and welcoming, that I wanted to give something back.
I have practiced Tai Chi for twenty-eight years, and had hoped to continue in Sheffield. Unfortunately, the Tai Chi practised here is Wu Style and I do Yang Style, so there wasn’t a class for me to join. Having noticed the volunteer programme at SCLC, I decided to get in touch to see if they would be interested in me running a Tai Chi class. We started with a small group in August 2023, and have been meeting weekly on Wednesdays, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm ever since.
The group has grown, and we have a core of around ten regulars, with new people joining us all the time. It’s a lovely group of friendly people who have fun learning new skills, and regularly meet up for a cuppa in the café after class. We had our first Christmas high tea this year in the Leisure Centre café, which was marvellous. You would be very welcome if you think you would like to give Tai Chi a try.
Volunteering has given me the opportunity to combine two things I love – Tai Chi and teaching! In addition, I have made new friends in my class, and the other volunteers and staff are really friendly and encouraging. If you have any spare time on your hands, and are considering volunteering for something, I highly recommend joining this embracing community.