All kinds of volunteering can make a difference to society, but opportunities like these have community enrichment at their core.

All | Moira | Sharon | Will | Andy | Ray | EmmaM

Monday Feb 21, 2011

Back to school

Hi! I’m Will and I work at YouthNet, the charity behind Do-it.

I guess I’ve been passionate about volunteering since I was a teenager and over the years have got involved in some of its various different guises. From helping with litter picking and helping run kids clubs on summer projects in my local area to training as a peer supporter and helping with educational outreach while I was a university student, I’ve certainly tried my hand at a range of different types of volunteering.

Now I’m embarking on a whole new voluntary adventure, as I turn my hand to being a school governor at a local primary school. It might not necessarily be what you’d normally think of when you hear the word volunteering – at least I’d imagine that attending meetings and reading documents won’t most people’s typical  image of volunteering – but it is a really crucial and common volunteer role as Do-it’s own feature article about school governors underlines.

You might wonder what it is about being a school governor that appeals to a young, childless man. Well, governing will really combine two of my passions: volunteering and education.  I’ve already been involved in education in a few ways. I’ve (obviously) had my own education at school and uni; I worked at a school when I took a gap year; I was a student member of a governing body at my uni and I spent a year working in widening participation at what would normally be branded an ‘elite’ university, working with school students from year 5 right up to year 13 to encourage those from non-traditional backgrounds to consider applying to the university.

So becoming a school governor just kind of makes sense to me as a voluntary activity (not that you need any educational background at all to be one)

Having said all of that, I guess what really struck me when I first visited the school was how obviously the staff that were present cared. I mean, obviously, you would hope and expect they would. But it did somehow go beyond my expectations. And hearing the pride with which they talk about their school and the work they do to boost the attainment of pupils whose backgrounds are stacked against them was truly inspirational.

I’ve embarked on this journey because I’m passionate about volunteering and about education, but also because I want to get more involved in my local community. The really great news is that in the school I’ve found a community that I suspect I too will proud to be a member of, and that I’m really looking forward to sharing my experience of here on the Do-it blog.

Posted by Will ( 12:33 PM )
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Wednesday Feb 02, 2011

Rebuilding my confidence

After leaving my job in January 2008, I decided to do some voluntary work. I’d lost a lot of confidence and fancied doing something outdoorsy having spent 16 years in an office.

The Greengrid Taskforce Voluntary Group (part of Groundwork) offered the perfect solution and my first task day at Hadleigh Castle Country Park, venue for the 2012 Mountain Bike event, had me clearing scrub from bluebells. I was nervous, but the Taskforce Officer and volunteers made me very welcome. Over the last three years I’ve helped build hedges, done litter picking and coppicing, represented Groundwork at community open days and contributed articles to the newsletter. Sadly government cuts have meant Greengrid has been phased out, though there are still opportunities to volunteer with other local conservation groups.

My experiences with Greengrid spurred me on to start my own litter crusade on a pathway beside a local brook. Via the internet, I ordered equipment from environmental groups CPRE and People Clearing Litter and in April 2009, led my first monthly community group litter pick. So far we’ve collected 188 sacks of rubbish and in 2009 picked up an environmental award from our town council.

As a sufferer from the neurological condition dystonia and member of the UK based charity, I’m now the Fundraising and Communications Officer for the Essex Support Group. I’ve attended forums, AGMs, networked with other support groups and created a newsletter for the support group.  In 2008 I joined the Society’s Communications Committee as a volunteer which involves meetings in London and conference calls once or twice a year.

By the end of 2008 I’d signed up as a Bookstart volunteer giving out packs to parents of babies between 7 and 9 months and pre-school children.

2009 was my year as a ‘Serial Volunteer.’ I registered as a steward at The Globe Theatre and during that season I checked tickets, sold programmes, showed patrons to their seats and answered ad-hoc questions. The atmosphere was electric and I was fortunate enough to meet a lady on my induction from my hometown. We organised our volunteering sessions together and still keep in touch two years on.

This experience was a great boost to my confidence; now I’m not fazed by crowds or a room full of people.

My other voluntary roles have included working in a charity shop, distributing envelopes and programmes for community events, Beach Watch surveys, writing campaign letters for the RSPB, helping at the BBC RaW Tour in Romford, organising MacMillan Coffee mornings, supporting HEART UK runners at the 2008 London Marathon and helping my goddaughter with her literacy and numeracy.

I’ve gained a huge amount from all my voluntary work and I’m glad I’ve been able to put something back into society.

I’ve just registered to be a London Ambassador for 2012. If chosen I look forward to welcoming visitors to my capital city.

Posted by Sharon ( 10:55 AM )
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