My name is Susan Starr. I started volunteering at a very young age because it was in my blood; my parents were great volunteers in the community. I entered the workforce during the ‘three-day work-week’, and at that time, you couldn't get a job for love nor money. Somebody suggested that I volunteer for the Citizens' Advice Bureau, which I did, and stayed there for about 33 years in the end.

Alongside this, I formed a women’s group at our Shul called New Horizons. The Rebbetzin of Stanmore Shul thought it might be a good idea if we had a welfare organisation too, so we started Stanmore Community Care, and I was on the steering committee. We were the first community care organisation that belonged to the United Synagogue, and most Shuls now have one.

" We made sure that the communities had a welfare organisation and were working in a proper way. Looking after their volunteers, etc. Chesed are just an amazing organisation now, very diverse. "