'Losing my husband has given me empathy for others'

Julia Mallett has encouraged others to volunteer

A woman who became a carer for her late husband says her experiences have given her understanding, empathy and a desire to help others.

Julia Mallett, 61, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, lost her husband in 2015, aged 53.

She had cared for him for four years following a brain tumour and subsequent surgery that left him disabled.

"No-one thinks this is going to happen to them. I think it gave me an empathy for people in this situation," she said.

'The best thing I have ever done'

Ms Mallett is a volunteer who delivers seated exercise classes for people with dementia and their carers.

She said the classes helped people connect and she was surprised to discover how "everyone seemed to remember the Hokey Cokey".

She added that she understood the difficulty of extreme and unexpected changes and said becoming a volunteer was the "best thing I have ever done".

"We were expecting this long retirement together, but this happened to us when we were so young," she said.

"When something like that happens to you, it puts a different perspective on your life. I wanted a different work-life balance."

Ms Mallett began volunteering with the Damsons group for people with dementia

She began volunteering with the Damsons group for people with dementia and their carers run by the National Trust at Peckover House, Wisbech.

Following a 'Love to Move' taster session at the group, she put herself forward to train to help improve cognitive function, health and wellbeing in a social environment.

"I wish I had found it years ago," she said.

"When in life do you get to do something you really enjoy and everybody is telling you 'thank you'?

"I would recommend to anybody to do the training and get a group going because it is fantastic."