“I started volunteering as a teenager in order to build my experience for job applications. As an arts lover and someone who spent much time performing at the local community theatre with my local drama group, I applied to volunteer there. 

As a volunteer usher and fire warden, I was customer-facing, able to watch each of the performances, learn about organisational policy and gain some valuable people skills. Doing this provided me not only with the necessary skills to become successful in applying for part-time work but it gave me a sense of drive and purpose that only comes from doing something you love. 

I often struggled with confidence and mental health during these years, but volunteering was the right step for me to take and environment for me. I felt like I was both giving back and gaining from the experience.

 It led me on to pursue further volunteering roles in the future such as volunteering for Roots, a northern-France based charity supplying clean water, power banks, WIFI and hot showers to displaced communities. I was able to both learn and develop continually in this role from starting as a General Volunteer to becoming the Volunteer Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator and later, after I moved back to complete my degree, a Trustee. Roots supported me in this, and I feel blessed to have met the passionate people I have through volunteering.”