“Get involved, come on in:” student volunteer Barney shares his experience
Barney, 22, volunteers for VoiceAbility in Edinburgh. We talked to him about why he volunteers, and what he gets out of it.
How did you find out about volunteering with VoiceAbility?
I was looking up volunteering options in Edinburgh and it came up on Google.
I applied, and pretty quickly Karen [VoiceAbility’s volunteer coordinator in Scotland] got in touch. I did all the training over summer. It was quite rigorous but in a good way. It’s taken a while to the point when I‘m actually volunteering, but Karen was always in touch and letting me know what’s happening.
What made you choose to volunteer?
I just wanted to get involved in something.
I’m interested in potentially doing law, so this looked like the perfect blend of charity community work and getting some skills for future jobs.
Often as a student it can feel a bit like living in a city rather than being a truly part of it. However, volunteering with VoiceAbility has allowed me to feel more involved in the local community.
Tell me about your role – what are you getting up to?
I’m a Service Team Volunteer based in Edinburgh. I’ve done 3 actions so far – two home visits and a focus group at the Salvation Army hub, which I’ve really enjoyed.
I’m learning the job as I go. I’m not an expert on Social Security Scotland benefits, but I like helping.
The home visits are out of your comfort zone, not something I’ve done before being fairly young so it’s a new experience. It’s not like academic work or professional work. It’s something more personal, so I really enjoyed that.
What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering with VoiceAbility?
I would definitely advise them to do it. Get involved, come on in!
I did my degree in Edinburgh and that’s finished so I’ll be moving away soon, but I’m talking to the team about volunteering when I’m back home too.
Volunteering with VoiceAbility
VoiceAbility’s volunteers in Scotland work with disabled people, and their parents and carers, who need support to access Social Security Scotland benefits. Volunteers also help to raise awareness of this service through networking and community engagement.
Could you be a volunteer?