This meals on wheels week, we want to introduce you to Karl, one of our amazing Community Team Members.
We spoke to Karl for our 2024/25 Impact Report, and want to take this opportunity to share the full interview.
Meet Karl…..
“If you can make your work life good, you’ve broken the mould.”
For Karl, swapping the warehouse floor for delivering meals on wheels was more than just a career change.
After nearly three decades working at The Wine Society, Karl never imagined leaving. “I didn’t think I’d go, the governor there was good, it was like family,” he reflects. But when leadership changed, so did the environment. “I didn’t know what mental health was, but I think I was getting stressed.”
That shift marked the beginning of something new. Encouraged by a colleague and nudged by his daughter, who works in care, Karl applied to HILS. His first attempt didn’t land, but his persistence paid off. “I was gutted when I didn’t hear back,” he admits. “But I didn’t give up. I got the application in and had a call that afternoon. I had a smile from ear to ear. I was well chuffed!”
From day one, Karl knew this was more than just a job. “I love it. I absolutely love it. It’s like a family-run thing,” he says. “I do seven routes now.”
“You could be the only person they see”
Karl’s compassion runs deep. Whether it’s returning with a forgotten dessert, checking in on someone after a fall, or taking extra time to chat, he gets that it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
“One lady had a fall and kept saying, ‘I’m alright, I’m alright.’ But I wasn’t having that. I went back and reported it, she got the help she needed.”
Another time, he arrived to find a he was unable to get an answer upon ringing a clients doorbell. “I tried calling his phone number and heard a crash, bang, wallop… He’d woken up startled and hit his head. I couldn’t ignore it. I rang the office and did my other drops, but I made sure he got help. That’s what it’s all about.”
Karl’s role is about so much more than delivering a hot meal. It’s about showing up, as a friendly face, a listening ear, and sometimes the only visitor a client might have that day.
“No matter what problems you’ve got, if you get to the client and you’ve put a smile on their face. It makes it all worthwhile.”
Finding Fulfilment
It’s not always easy. Karl recalls his very first week, one that could have put anyone off.
“In my first few days, I walked into a house where the ambulance was there for the client”. Then the next day, I walked into a place where a gentleman had fallen and there was mess everywhere.” He pauses. “I just thought… what have I let myself in for?”
But those moments only deepened his commitment. “I hear a lot of stories. The sad ones, yeah. But the good ones outdo the bad. You can’t take life for granted.”
The most memorable part of his job? “Getting the job in the first place,” Karl beams. “Coming from a warehouse to doing this, it was a challenge. But it’s completely different and I just love it.”
Making Every Day Matter
Karl’s warmth and sense of humour shine through in everything he does, even when the satnav sends him on a wild goose chase. “When I get a new route, I go out in my own time and learn it. If you can’t find somewhere, it really winds me up!”
He’s also known for being the guy who always helps out. “If there’s meals to go back out, I’ll always offer. I said I could do Sundays too, so now I do six days a week. I’m not doing anything else, and I love it.”
It’s clear that Karl has found purpose in helping others. “You’ve got to make the most of your time. There’s 24 hours in a day – 8 in bed, 8 at home, 8 at work. If you can make your work life good, you’ve broken the mould.”
Advice for Future Colleagues
Asked what he’d say to someone thinking about joining HILS, Carl’s answer is simple: “Join.”
He doesn’t sugar-coat the challenges, but his pride in the job is clear. “I love coming to work. I think that says it all. I’ve only been off sick once, and that was because they told me to go home!”
If he could have any superpower to help him at work? “Make everyone smile. That’d be the best one.”
And honestly, Karl might already have it.
“Everyone’s made me feel welcome since day one, that’s priceless. I just enjoy coming to work. And if I can be the one to put a smile on someone’s face, then that’s a good day.”
Do you think you have what it takes to become one of our Community Team Members, delivering hot, nutritious meals to people throughout Hampshire, Hertfordshire, or West Sussex? Get in touch to find out more, or head to our recruitment page to apply.
