Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Tim

Tim joined the Conway Homework Club (CHC) in September 2025 and has quickly become a familiar, reassuring presence for the students who come through its doors. Every week, he sits down with children to work through their Maths and Science homework, not by giving them the answers, but by asking the right questions until the penny drops.
 

A bit about Tim

Tim studied sciences to postgraduate level before spending around 30 years in customer services roles at companies including BT, Capita and Lloyds Banking Group. When he retired, he wanted to find something that would keep his mind active and do some good at the same time. The Homework Club turned out to be the perfect fit. 
 
Outside of Conway, Tim swims in the sea in the summer, plays guitar in both a five-piece and a two-piece band, and regularly attends outreach events in Belfast as part of a peaceful vegan activist group.
 

What drew him to Conway

Tim’s motivation for volunteering is rooted in personal experience. He spent several years living and working abroad himself, and hasn’t forgotten what that feels like. 
 
“Things that we local people take for granted, can seem difficult for a new person to achieve, but it can be made easier by giving some assistance at the right time and in the right way.” 
 
That understanding of what it means to start over somewhere new is at the heart of why Tim shows up every week.
 

What the role involves

Tim works with children on their actual school homework, focussing mainly on Maths and Science. His approach is to guide rather than tell, pointing students in the right direction and letting them work through to the answer themselves, so the understanding sticks. 
 
“The most rewarding part of the homework club is, after discussing a homework problem, hearing the children say ‘I understand that much better’ or ‘that is clearer to me now.'”
 

The bigger picture

When asked whether his volunteering has made a difference to the community, Tim is characteristically modest. But he’s clear about what it’s meant to him personally. 

“I do not know if my volunteering has impacted the community at all. For myself, the volunteering has given me an opportunity to meet people from lots of different countries (which is always great) and to use some of my knowledge of science and maths to assist them in moving their lives forward.” 

For families who are new to Belfast, navigating school, homework and a new education system on top of everything else is a lot. Having someone patient and knowledgeable in their corner makes a real difference.

Thinking about volunteering?

We are incredibly grateful for the time, care and encouragement that Tim and all of our volunteers bring to the Conway community. If you’d like to give your time and make a difference in your local community, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.