Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Lou’s Place

Lou’s Place Volunteers Melissa, Gerri and Jo

Volunteers are at the heart of Lou’s Place. Their generosity, time and commitment are integral to our operation. We have 134 active volunteers, with 27 new volunteers joining us this year.

In 2025, we nominated our activity volunteers for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards in recognition of their commitment and dedication to providing therapeutic and skill-building activities at Lou’s Place. These awards, coordinated by the Centre for Volunteering, not only celebrate the valuable contributions of our volunteers, but also highlight the critical role of volunteering in NSW. 

What our volunteers are saying

Volunteering at Lou’s Place is the best part of my week. The smiles and thank yous from the women as we serve up lunch makes my heart sing. 

Lisa, cooking volunteer

My cooking role is all about preparing family style lunches for the women to enjoy. It brings them together, sharing kindness and connection over a meal. 

Anonymous, cooking volunteer

I cook a BBQ lunch once a month. It’s a special role as I’m the only male allowed to work onsite. The women are always appreciative, and it feels good to be able to do something small that brings them joy. 

Richard, cooking volunteer

I have been teaching yoga and mindfulness at Lou’s Place for almost 10 years. I feel fortunate to be able to offer my skills to a community in need and I find it very rewarding. Sometimes women come in stressed about something in their lives, and it’s nice to see them relax and leave the class in a better space. 

Tessa, activity volunteer 

Photography by Amanda Lawson

Meals to go