From Scuba Diving to Volunteering: Meet Nick

For Nick Harrison, volunteering with Hackney Foodbank is a way to keep busy, meet people and give back to his community.

A semi-retired chartered building surveyor, at 68, Nick has lived in Hackney for more than 20 years. He and his wife Elaine, who is also a Hackney Foodbank volunteer, first got involved in volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping at a vaccination centre.

Two years ago, they attended a volunteering fair at Homerton Library, where they discovered Hackney Foodbank were looking for drivers.

“I thought, well, that skill is perfectly transferable,” said Nick, who regularly drives a van and tows a boat as part of his passion for scuba diving.

Since joining us, he’s tried almost every role, from volunteering in the warehouse and Food Distribution Centres to driving the Hackney Giving Van and helping at our fundraising events.

He said, “I kind of enjoy learning and being proactive,” he says. “And volunteering at the food bank gives me that element of satisfaction.”

Driving remains his favourite role, particularly when he can combine it with working at a food distribution centre.

“I think everyone should do every role,” he says. “You need to know the pressures and everything that’s on every element of it.”

With the diving season coming to an end, Nick is looking forward to having more time to volunteer.

“I’m not ready to sit around and do nothing,” he said.