Prime Minister Gordon Brown threw down the welcome mat to a Telford woman to get an insight into her tireless volunteer work helping schoolchildren in the borough.
Mr Brown invited 65-year-old Joan Jackson along to Number 10 Downing Street to hear all about her job, mentoring youngsters.
Mrs Jackson, of Stirchley, is a volunteer school mentor with Help the Aged, based in Halesfield, Telford, and she was one of a group of more than 150 people invited along to Number 10 for a special day recognising the work of volunteers.
The Prime Minister shook hands with all of the volunteers and chatted with them before they went on a tour of the famous address and were told about its history.
Mrs Jackson has been working as a volunteer with Help the Aged for around a year, despite being officially retired after a high-flying career spent in business and management training.
She said: “I took some time off but I found my brain starting to dissolve with nothing to do.
“I used to work with the Samaritans in my early days and later I worked for the Options alcohol counselling service so when I saw an advertisement for volunteer mentors with Help the Aged I thought ‘I can do all that’.
“It is such an enjoyable and satisfying job. It has done me a power of good working with children.
“I now have a better and more balanced picture of young people.”
Mrs Jackson has been helping youngsters at The Phoenix School in Dawley with everything from reading and writing to numeracy skills, art projects and even drama classes.
In September she will also start work with children at the Phoenix’s feeder school, the Captain Webb Primary.
Helena Whittingham, inter-generational officer with Help the Aged in Halesfield, said: “Joan is amazing.
“She really goes that extra mile to help the pupils and has done a lot of one-to-one work with them.
“Those she works with are basically great kids who are just struggling a little, for one reason or another, and she metaphorically holds their hands during their studies.”
Mrs Whittingham said Help the Aged was always on the lookout for more volunteer mentors and anyone interested in offering their services should call her on 01952 587821.
