John Bulloch

John volunteers regularly for Quaker Social Action’s mobile library and support service for people who are homeless in London. Three times per week, John is out in all weathers – providing a friendly welcome for all of our visitors to the service. Nearly twenty years ago, John received support from the mobile library when he himself was experiencing homelessness. Staff and volunteers at that time helped John to get back on his feet and, seeing his empathic nature, encouraged him to consider volunteering himself. John took the plunge, and since then he has provided an exceptional 15 years of dedicated service to the mobile library, which is now known as Turn a Corner.

John supports visitors with friendly conversation, passing on wisdom and sometimes survival tips about living on the streets, from his own past experience. He assists our readers to choose books, helps to distribute essential items, and guides people to other services to help address other needs. A visitor to the mobile library, Brian (name changed to protect privacy) says of John: “John is all you would wish a volunteer to be. A very empathic non-judgmental listener with a wonderfully wicked sense of humour which brightens the darkest days.”