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During her time as a nurse in the Royal Navy, Gina Bobin helped thousands of sick and injured servicemen and women. Now she’s continuing with her caring role as a volunteer, helping to organise a regular Café for other veterans in the London area.
Gina, who lives in Westminster, signed up in 1980 at the age of 26. As an experienced nurse, she was working at a hospital in Greenwich but had become frustrated with how the NHS was being run. She spent 10 years in the Royal Navy and loved every minute of it. Now at the age of 71, she helps to promote the café to other veterans, makes sure everything runs smoothly, finds local speakers and generally makes others feel welcome.
Gina says, “I just want to give something back to the Charity, who have been there when I needed them. Because of my career, I’m quite good at organising things, but my confidence was low. But when I heard they wanted a volunteer, I put my hand up. I’ve had great support in the volunteer role and it’s actually helping me as well, giving me something else to focus on and boosting my confidence.”
The café is held once a month, on the third Friday, in the Tealby Café, at the Battersea Dogs' and Cats' Home.
There aren’t enough words to describe how grateful I am to the Charity for the support they’ve given me."
Volunteer
Gina has been living with PTSD and the impact of physical injuries, since she was attacked by a stranger in 1990, just six months after she had left the Royal Navy. She found it difficult to get over the attack and says that the NHS struggled to understand what she was going through.
She struggled on for years, but then a friend recommended that she got in touch with the Charity. “There aren’t enough words to describe how grateful I am to the Charity for the support they’ve given me. They completely understand how veterans think and feel. They aren’t judgemental and I know they will be there for me, no matter what.
“The café offers a great environment for former service men and women of all ages, to come together and connect with like-minded people. We welcome their family members too. We’d love to encourage more local veterans to come along. It’s also a good way to find out about other support that’s available from the Charity.”
Veterans like Gina have so much experience and skills."
Community Builder, London
Siobhan Birbeck, who is the Community Builder for the Charity for London said, “Veterans like Gina have so much experience and skills, it’s great to be able to work with them for the benefit of the wider veteran community. The more volunteers we have like Gina, the more people we can help.”
There is a Facebook group for London veterans and you can find out more using the link below.