Which organisation are you involved with?

"I work as a volunteer for Link-Line; it's a free service where visually impaired and elderly people get the chance to receive the latest information about their area through a free talking magazine programme. We're based at John Beddoes School, Presteigne.

The monthly programme which is a 90 minute tape cassette includes local news, local interviews, poetry, music and much more. We give our clients what they want - e.g features on health and talk to local people about times past, living conditions, jobs etc. National celebrities have been interviewed in the past but resources have restricted us to this now - we haven't got the money to do that now."

What sort of volunteer work do you do and where?

"I'm a producer, a presenter, a reporter, a tea lady, a fund raiser, and a delivery lady. We have 500 listeners around Powys Hereford Shropshire and one or two down in Neath. This means that we do 53 home visits a month. I've been to 400 birthday parties since I started as a volunteer. The oldest listener is 106 who gave me a lovely interview on the Elan Valley - her father built that."

How did you get started?

"The idea of Link-Line originated from a teacher at John Beddoes School who wanted to get pupils of the school more interested in the elderly - getting a link between the old and the young. He realized that he couldn't do it on his own so he brought in volunteers of which I was one; originally for one year, but I'm still here 21 years later!"

How long have you been a volunteer?

"I've been a Link Line Cymru volunteer for 21 years, but I was a volunteer 10 years before at a play school in Shropshire."

Are there any special skills you need to be a volunteer?

"You've got to like people. I just enjoy what I'm doing - it's hard work but you get a lot out of it."

How many hours a week/month do you give?

"It varies. I'm working at the school 3 days a week. These are studio based days, but it doesn't stop there as I'm out and about getting interviews - you have to take advantage of the times when interesting people pop along."

What are the best and worst things about being a volunteer?

"I enjoy what I'm doing and get a lot out of it myself. Hopefully I make a difference to the lives of the listeners. I think they appreciate what I do. The worst part of being a volunteer is that there isn't enough time to do all of what you want to do."

In 2005 Sheila Arnold was highly commended for her Volunteering work with Link-Line and was presented with a Wales Volunteer of the Year Award certificate. The contact number for people wishing to contribute or receive Link-Line tapes is 01544 260004.