Kate Hufton: Volunteer Spotlight | Ehart

My name is Kate. This is her third year volunteering with EHAAT. I retired after nearly 40 years in the education industry and decided I wanted to use some of the skills I developed during that time to support philanthropy. My husband is a local senior motorcyclist and his group was participating in his EHAAT fundraiser, so it was a natural choice for me.
Volunteer activities are very fulfilling. I enjoy working with the great team at the Buntingford shop. Also, as part of the tour team at North Weald’s reception and visitor centre, he gets to see the AW169 up close and see the crew and staff in action.

Another part of my role is giving talks and attending events within the community such as WI Groups, Rotary, Yarn Bombers and Mind Groups.

Talking to school groups gives me great pleasure. Seeing the younger students trying on helmets, role-playing as part of a crew, and giving assemblies and workshops to the older students really made the group feel like EHAAT. I’m always very encouraged because I want to know more about this.

One of the highlights of my schooling last year was an assembly for students and parents at a school near Bishop’s Stortford. The Year 6 student chose her EHAAT as her charity of choice. I was invited back along with Charlotte from the fundraising team and Sinead from the paramedic to kick off the Color Run Sports Day event. It was a lot of fun. I was then invited to represent her EHAAT and attend the final speech with the guest of honour, Dame Floella Benjamin. The school raised £4,000 for her and her work with EHAAT was recognized in a major speech.

I am honored and proud to be one of over 400 volunteers who support our teams across the North Weald and Earls Colne. I’m also very fortunate to have made new friends through the various activities I’ve been involved in.