Minister of the Month – Natasha Cheung
Meet Minister of the Month, Natasha, who bravely volunteers in the Chief’s Office, running the Hoxton Street Monster Supplies Postal Service with two other Gremlins to ensure that no mini human’s letter goes unanswered.
Every Tuesday, Natasha contacts Betty the Yeti, Lapis the Mummy, Luca the Vampire and three of our other lonely monsters to find out if they have dispatched their letters of reply via our delivery service, Post Mortem.
Originally trained in 2013, Natasha has been regularly volunteering for the past two years and supported more than 250 letters between the human and monster worlds.
Natasha explains ‘the Monster Postal Service helps connect kids (and adults) with monsters trying to make human friends, and improve monster-human relations. So of course I couldn’t resist!’
Name: Natasha Cheung
Volunteer roles: Gremlin at the Monster Postal Service, and sometimes I work overtime as a general office gremlin for Ministry of Stories.
Hail from: Hong Kong
Favourite story and why
What kind of monster makes you choose only ONE story? 1,001 Nights then, because a good story should last and last.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
Life-long lover of stories, french fries and coffee.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Ministry of Stories?
The Monster Postal Service helps connect kids (and adults) with monsters trying to make human friends, and improve monster-human relations. So of course I couldn’t resist such a worthy cause! We have some really great monsters, who are surprisingly engaging letter writers. Also, I’m nosy and love reading all the mail!
‘We have great monsters; surprisingly engaging letter writers.’
Were you nervous about anything before starting?
Would the Chief be friendly or scary? I still don’t know!
What has been the best experience of volunteering?
Sneaking in and taking over the Chief’s Office, learning new things about the monsters each week via their letters, the unending supply of fantastic new stories written by the kids, stealing biscuits from the kitchen, and the company of course! But really, the Ministry’s brought together a wonderful, fun and dedicated bunch of people.
What has been the most unexpected thing about volunteering?
You never know what’s going to happen from week to week – from researching selkies and mermaids (would they be decent pen pals?), to helping with workshops, boxing moonlight and dragon treats for Hoxton Street Monster Supplies customers or trying to pick a lock (and failing). Plus the Ministry organises fun events for its volunteers!
Has volunteering changed anything in your life?
I’ve learned that monsters are hardly the scariest things out there.
What would you say to other people thinking of volunteering with the Ministry?
Do it! There are lots of different roles you can take on, the kids are so creative, and it’s always a rewarding experience.
Describe the Ministry of Stories in three words:
Incontrovertibly inspiring & inventive.
