Senegalese drummer Mamadou Diaw banged the drum for volunteering at the Liverpool-based health and social care charity PSS. Mamadou volunteers with the PSS Enable Music Group and also fronts a band called Mamadou and the Super Libidor Band. The group helps people who use PSS services to play an instrument, sing and write songs alongside support workers.
Mamadou joined other members of the weekly group outside PSS headquarters in Seel Street for a public jamming session. It marked the end of Volunteer Week and passing members of the public were invited to join in.
Mamadou said: “I think people really enjoyed this – they seemed to really like the chance to join in. I became a volunteer because I’ve had a lot of help from people since I first came to this country 16 years ago. I felt I wanted to help others and PSS seemed to have a lot of projects that needed volunteers.
“I got involved in the Enable Music group as I’ve always felt that people with learning difficulties have a particularly hard time. I really enjoy it – it’s nice to make people happy and it’s good to see how other people deal with life.”
PSS has a wide variety of opportunities for people who would like to volunteer their time to help others. For more information, call Sandra Odogu, PSS Volunteer Co-ordinator, on 0151 702 5574 or e-mail Sandra.Odogu@pss.org.uk.