Catriona Nunn When Janet Dowie arrived at York in 1986 from a small Scottish village, she was eager for new experiences and driven by purpose. Now, as a volunteer and outreach coordinator working with the London homeless and a supporter of the University’s Sanctuary Fund, her life reflects a deep commitment to service and community.
Growing up in Abernethy, a small rural village near Perth, Janet’s world was shaped by her parents’ example. Her mother, who had left school at 14 but later trained as a nurse, instilled in Janet and her siblings a reverence for education and a drive to seize every opportunity. “Throughout my childhood, I remember this aspiration for us to work hard at school and to be able to go into further education,” Janet recalls. “It was a privilege to be at York”.
York’s campus was a revelation. “I was suddenly with loads of friends, living with people of a similar age and able to socialise with them. I absolutely loved it,” she says. The sense of belonging, the vibrancy of campus life, and the diversity of backgrounds among her peers opened her eyes to new possibilities.
Janet’s time at York was not only academically formative- she studied mathematics and statistics but provided space for personal growth. She was a keen student, attending every lecture (“even the 9am ones”), but her university experience was about much more than grades. “It reinforced the importance of education to me,” she says, “which would open a world of opportunities.”
After graduation, Janet’s path was not immediately clear. She entered the world of market research in London, drawn by her fascination with people’s habits and choices. “I was part of a graduate training program, working first with data and then moving to client service,” she explains. “I’ve always been interested in what people get up to”.
After marriage and two children, Janet found the demands of corporate life difficult with motherhood. “It involved a lot of travel and long hours,” she says. “So, I decided I would be at home with the children. But when my daughter was three, I wanted to go back to work, and thought, what can I do?”
The answer came from her own background: she retrained as a maths teacher, earning her PGCE and teaching in schools until 2014. “I have subsequently done tutoring, including voluntary tutoring,” she says. But as her mother’s health declined, Janet stepped back from paid work and began to devote more time to volunteering, a decision that would shape the next chapter of her life.
Janet’s commitment to service was not new. “My mum worked for Oxfam, always as a volunteer, and my dad was the treasurer,” she remembers. “So, when I was at York, I worked in the Oxfam shop and did a collection program to get donations from the local communities. When I came to London, I was involved with Oxfam there too”.
Over the years, Janet has volunteered in a range of roles:
- Dementia Volunteer: Inspired by her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, Janet volunteered in a hospital, memory cafes and care homes.
- Action Tutoring: Offering maths tutoring to disadvantaged students.
- Home-Start: Supporting young families and new mothers facing challenges.
- Pets As Therapy: Bringing comfort to care home residents, schoolchildren, and eventually the homeless, through her dog Jack.
“I’m just drawn to different things,” Janet says. “Dementia, because of my mother. Home-Start, because I had experienced being at home with young children and Maths tutoring, because of my teaching background. When volunteering it’s important to find something that resonates with you personally.”
“When you give to others, whatever you’re experiencing yourself, it can make it a lot more manageable. It makes you aware of what you need to be grateful for in your life.”
In 2022, Janet took on a new challenge: volunteering at St Patrick’s, a church in London with a thriving outreach program for people experiencing homelessness. “I’d always had in my mind about homelessness and how to help people on the street but it’s a very difficult thing to do,” she explains. Her faith played a role, too. “During that period, I became a Catholic, and it’s very much part of the Catholic faith to serve the poor, or people in need,” she says. “I went to a midnight mass at St Patrick’s and saw the volunteering sign-up. I thought, actually, this is what I’m looking for”.
St Patrick’s serves breakfast three days a week and an evening meal on three others, offering not just food but a sense of community, dignity, and hope. “We try to treat people with dignity, without judgment. These are just people like you and I who have fallen on difficult times and are experiencing homelessness,” Janet says. “It’s about making them feel a bit more human, giving them a home-cooked meal, and building trust”.
The work is interesting and unpredictable. “You never know what’s going to happen day to day,” Janet admits. But in February 2024, she was appointed Outreach Coordinator. “It’s a large operation – about 130 cooks and nearly 200 volunteers. My role is all about relationships and problem-solving. I love the challenge”.
Amid the bustle of St Patrick’s, one volunteer stands out – on four legs. Jack, Janet’s Springer Spaniel, is a certified Pets As Therapy dog.
“When I got Jack in 2017, I knew I wanted him to be a therapy dog. He’s very calm, and I always take him to as many different places as possible,” Janet says. Jack has accompanied her to memory cafes, care homes, and schools, where he’s been part of reading programs for reluctant children. “He just looks at them devotedly, as if he’s hanging on every word. It really works – he’s sometimes treated like a celebrity in schools!”
At St Patrick’s, Jack’s has an impact. “He was very shy to begin with, but now he’s confident and comes around to see the guests. They ask for him. On Mondays, when I give out tickets for the week’s services, he’s always there with me. A dog is quite a distraction – it’s calming for people. Many of them live on the street, and it can be tense at times. Jack is a calming influence”.
Jack’s presence brings joy and connection. “Some of the guests are really excited when they see him – it meets needs within them, because often they might have had pets in the past. One guest is even doing a portrait of him!” Janet laughs. “He creates a buzz. He’s a welcome presence for guests and volunteers alike”.
For Janet, volunteering is not just about giving; it’s about receiving, too. “It’s not a case of me just giving to them. I get so much back from the people I meet. She encourages everyone to experience volunteering, even in small ways. “I try to get everybody to come and serve. St Patrick’s is a place of healing, not just for the guests but for the volunteers as well”.
Janet’s advice to current students and recent graduates is simple but profound:
“The most important thing we can do is to think about the difference we can make to others, because we can always make a difference, even if it’s a small one. When you give to others, whatever you’re experiencing yourself, it can make it a lot more manageable. It makes you aware of what you need to be grateful for in your life. And remember not to judge people – just accept where they’re at in their life and think how you can help them”.
Janet’s commitment to giving back extends beyond her local community. For several years, she has been a major supporter of the University of York’s Sanctuary Fund, which provides scholarships and support for refugees and asylum seekers.
“I wanted to contribute to the scholarship program, to help people go and study at York,” she explains. “At the time, I was in touch with the university, and they explained to me about the York Sanctuary Fund and how the fund could direct funds according to need. The ability to respond quickly to people’s changing circumstances is really valuable”.
For Janet, the Sanctuary Fund’s mission resonates. “Everybody should have the right to an education. If they can provide that to someone who’s facing the prospect of not being able to pursue their academic career, that’s wonderful. The biggest difference we can make to young people is to give them the chance to be educated,” she says, “and I enjoy the connection with York – it’s fabulous to think of a university I went to doing this kind of work”.
She is aware of her own good fortune. “Where you’re born and where you live – you don’t choose those things. Some of us are very blessed, but that’s not the case for everyone. The best we can do is to give back something to people in need”.
As Janet reflects on her journey from a small Scottish village to York, from market research to teaching, from volunteer to outreach coordinator, she is grateful for the opportunities she’s been given and determined to keep making a difference. “There are so many areas you can help in, but you have to think about your values and what’s important to you. That helps you choose your direction”.
Her message to fellow alumni and current students is clear:
“Everyone can make a difference, however small. Volunteering is a wonderful thing to do, even if it’s just a little. And remember- never underestimate the power of kindness or a listening ear. You never know whose life you might touch”.
If you’d like to learn more about The York Sanctuary Fund, visit the official page.
You can join in our cultural exchange and register to be a mentor to a refugee via the York for Life platform.
