Pauline Denton | Local Hero

We had the pleasure of sitting down and having a chat with Pauline Denton, one of our Depictions of DN Top Ten winners. Pauline runs the Monday Smile A While group for Thorne & Moorends. The group’s mission is to “help reduce social isolation primarily for the elderly within our community and promote positive mental health & well-being. Engaging in lots of different activities, games, and quizzes. With a lot of laughter thrown in too.”

Pauline explained how the group had not been together in the same room for the entire pandemic, but how they were getting closer to coming back together again for their regular meetups, even if it’s just to “have a cup of tea, wave and smile at each other across a room”.

The initial group ‘Smile A While’ originated a few years back under the NHS. When it became under threat of being closed, Pauline and a group of volunteers picked it up for the group to continue. “It was a matter of either we run it ourselves or we lose it, so that’s what we did, and that was four years ago. We moved forward as an independent group and became ‘Monday Smile A While’. 

Pauline spoke of the intentions of the group further saying “It’s sharing a couple of hours on a Monday, that is different to what is already around anywhere. I forget how old they are. We’ve got about six (members) in their 90’s.” – “When you talk to them you would not know that they are as old as they are.” 

I asked Pauline why she felt Monday Smile a While was important to her. Pauline responded saying “Sometimes people make more of it than what it is. When they say, why do you do what you do? I don’t see that I’m doing anything special, I’m just meeting with friends on a Monday morning and offering them something to do, to take their mind off everything else that’s going on outside the group. I feel privileged and honoured that I get to share my Mondays with my friends and that they trust me enough to organise their Monday fun days because they have no idea what they’ve let themselves in for!”.

Pauline said “They’re my friends, I don’t see that it’s anything more than just doing what I would do for my friends. "

Pauline was keen to share the efforts made by the whole team of volunteers at Monday Smile A While. “Without the support from the other volunteers there would be no group, they say they wouldn’t know where to start doing what I do, (I just organise ) and I can’t do what they do. So, between us all it works! It is definitely a team effort to make sure everything is done well.” 

As Pauline was sharing stories of the group over lockdown, one story stood out to us. She spoke of a lady in the group who struggles with her dexterity and mobility who was sent a craft pack delivered by stronger communities officers. When they’re at the group some members who find it difficult to move their hands, often tend to let someone else do it for them, they are not sure whether they will be able to do it or not”. Pauline shared that she received a phone call from the member of the group saying “I did it” – “When someone is there at the group It’s easy to say ‘oh can you do this for me, I can’t do that’ but because she was at home and she did it herself. And I’m like good for you!”.

Pauline spoke of how she has kept in touch with the group through phone calls, explaining that most members get calls once a week by herself to catch up, but some members of the group have now taken it upon themselves to call each other, and they are excited about the prospect of coming back to sit next to each other at the Monday sessions!

Thank you, Pauline. You and the team of volunteers truly are local heroes! Congratulations on placing in the Top Ten Depictions of DN.

You can read more about Monday Smile A While and see what they get up to on their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Monday-Smile-A-While-301055410367477 

Our Top Local Heroes have taken part in a film shoot with artist James Lockey as a way to profile their work and celebrate their achievements. Along with a beautiful film score composed by Hayley Youell, the film was featured in this year’s DN Festival of Light.

Watch the Depictions of DN Film by James Lockey here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyzO1E-FF6Y

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