My name is Maureen Solomons. I was born in Glasgow and got married when I was 19, just before my birthday. I was looking for something to do when my sister-in-law suggested that I might like a role at Jewish Care. When I went for an interview, I was a very quiet person, but they put me at ease right away.

Next thing I know, I'm volunteering for Jewish Care. We dealt with anybody who came in, and it was nice to see how many people wanted to join as volunteers. In 2005, I became Chair of the Board of Trustees. Receiving the Queen’s Award was really a highlight of my journey. I remember it was such an emotional moment, I stood up to speak, and I started to cry.

" I’ve got a second family at Jewish Care, and I've made lifelong friends with colleagues. If you feel that you could do a voluntary role, my advice is just to do it. I was very shy when I first started volunteering, but it brought me out of it. "