Paul - volunteer Independent Custody Visitor

Noreen supported the finance team at Talkback UK with their invoicing processes. She was one of the first volunteers to use Volunteer Bucks. How did you find out about Volunteer Bucks and the volunteering opportunity? I had been using the Volunteer Matching Service since September 2023 and made the switch over to Volunteer Bucks when the platform became available. The transition was easy; I didn't have to do anything except register myself. Finding my volunteering role was simple too - the platform and interface are very user-friendly. Roles are easy to search for and all the information you need is readily available. I applied in September, and after the interview and checks I was able to start the role in the same month. What was your volunteer role and what did it involve? My role with Talkback UK was the Accounts and Finance Support volunteer. This involved helping the finance team to upload and pay invoices for the charity. I think I joined the organisation at a pivotal time. They had an audit coming up, so I was able to facilitate clearing up the backlog of work. Why do you volunteer? I had been off work for several years to focus on raising my children. Volunteering is a great way for me to gain experience and get back into work. What attracted you to this role? There were a couple of reasons why I chose this role. Firstly, I was attracted to the mission and work of Talkback UK. They offer great support to autistic people and getting them back into the mainstream world. Secondly, because I had previously worked as an office administrator in a college for 6 years, so it was a familiar environment to ease myself back into. I wanted to work in the background for a worthwhile cause, and this was a great way to do it. What were the best and most challanging parts of this role? For me, the part I enjoyed most was learning something new and learning what goes on behind the scenes for a charity. There wasn't anything too challenging, but the systems and processes did take some time to get used to. Every organisation does things their own way, so it did take some time to learn the ropes. Would you recommend volunteering and if so, why? Yes, definitely! I believe what you give back to society with any role, especially in a charity like this, makes volunteering worthwhile. I would recommend to everyone to volunteer in whatever field they're interested in if they are looking for a job or if they have any time on the side. I'm in a paid role now which volunteering helped me get to. When I left, I as even able to recommend my friend who took over the role.

Evie has been recently matched as a Buddy Lead volunteer with Macmillan Cancer Support, and as a Schools Service volunteer with the NSPCC. She is excited to be stepping into the next chapter of her life through volunteering. What led you to volunteer? I have been unemployed for several years due to a long-term health condition which has prevented me from returning to work. This has been frustrating as I used to be very professionally active. I am embarking on a new chapter in my life and volunteering is a way of being part of an organisation again, and I am glad to apply my skills, and personal and professional experience. I have learnt a lot about myself through my health condition, so this is a chance to bring everything together and give back to others. In the long term I will be looking to be returning to employment at some point. Volunteering means being able to hold my head up high and get back into professional environments again, as I have felt a lot of shame and embarrassment from being out of work for an extended period. Now I will be part of a team again, and it feels good to be able to update my CV with volunteering activity. I also know my self-worth will improve – in fact it already has – and it’s something else to think about rather than my personal situation. It also means social integration as I’ve been quite socially isolated at times due to ill health. Volunteering means I can take it step by step and get the balance right for me. I’m stepping into next chapter of my life through these volunteer roles, and I’m looking forward to getting started, to do some good and to an exciting future. How did you find out about the roles? The organisation I volunteered with three years ago found most of their volunteers through Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service, so came across the Service then. After going through some difficult circumstances, I have decided to reach out to see what volunteering roles were on offer. I was quite clear on what I was looking for – something based on my previous volunteering experience. The Volunteer Matching Service team suggested a few roles and, after a further chat, I was able to make a more informed choice about the roles I wanted to get involved with. It is quite a personal decision. What are your volunteer roles and what do they involve? One of the roles is with NSPCC as a Speak out Stay safe volunteer, delivering workshops in primary schools to teach children about the different types of abuse and how they can speak out and stay safe. This appealed to me because I have previous experience in youth work along with my own personal experiences, which I can use in this role. I felt it was important to be myself and honest in the interview process. The other role is as a Buddy Lead volunteer with Macmillan Cancer Support to help with the Macmillan Buddy service which provides a lifeline for people with cancer. It will involve leading another small team of volunteers helping people with cancer. The roles are quite different from one another and are also looking for different commitments each month. Overall, they fit with the commitment length I’m looking for. What has the onboarding process been like? Both roles have quite stringent onboarding processes, which is reassuring, as they are both sensitive roles, where empathy and sensitivity is key. So far, I have been accepted for both roles and currently in the onboarding process. Interestingly, when I spoke with the volunteer coordinator at Macmillan, based on my answers to her questions and lived experiences of losing close family members to cancer, she offered a more senior volunteer role managing a team of volunteers. I was not expecting this; it has given me a bit of self-confidence and it is good to know I can apply more of my skills to the organisation. I’m looking forward to giving it a go. What has registering with Volunteer Matching Service meant to you? The Volunteer Matching Service has been a springboard for me. I know I’m not yet ready to be in paid employment, as I am still in a transition period, so when I was looking at what else I can do with my time, the Service was the ideal place for me to turn to. I would like to grow in confidence: even the recruitment process gave me workplace experience and a reason to hold myself in a professional way again. The interview process and training has already helped me feel a very different person. And it shows – friends and family members are noticing! It is also inspiring others: there is a real ripple effect to getting involved with volunteering. Further information: To find out more about NSPCC or Macmillan Cancer Support, visit the NSPCC website and the Macmillan Cancer Support website . March 2024

Colin volunteers as a hospital car driver as well as a trustee for Community Care North Bucks - two roles which he says have helped him to build communication skills and empathy. How did you find out about the roles? I registered with the Volunteer Matching Service at the beginning of the pandemic and found roles with a couple of charities. I still had time to offer so, when the Volunteer Matching Service’s weekly email referred to a driving role taking patients to hospital, I put my hand up and joined the Hospital Car Service which operates under Community Care North Bucks. The following year I was invited to join the Board of trustees. The Hospital Car Service has also won the Proud of Bucks Award for Best Community Group in the Buckingham and Villages Community Impact Board category, and Community Care North Bucks was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018. What are your volunteer roles and what do they involve? I drive patients, who have been referred to us by their GP in North Bucks, to and from hospital appointments one or two times a week. Volunteer drivers pick the patients up from their home, take them to their hospital appointments and then take them home again. They are my favourite couple of hours in the week – I can honestly say I get far more out of volunteering than I put in. In the trustee role, I help with organisational skills to run the organisation effectively, and the discipline around governance and compliance. Why do you volunteer? Covid taught us the importance of local community, and to help people. For me, volunteering is about the connections you make with people, and in providing much-needed community services. What attracted you to these roles? The driver’s role provided flexibility as volunteers choose what the levels of commitment and travel distances. It doesn’t matter how old you are or your background, you can get involved. It’s delivered by the community, for the community. The trustee role allows me to transfer my skills and experience. I had built up a lot of skills in my corporate background that I could bring to the role, particularly business skills – specifically IT and accountancy – as well as financial discipline and skills around motivating people which has always been a passion at work. It’s an exciting time of development and growth for the charity, looking at the future strategy and how we can expand the services we offer and fundraise to meet the high demand. The roles mean I volunteer with people who are passionate: there is no lack of enthusiasm. Have you found anything surprising about the roles? I wasn’t expecting to get as much out of volunteering – the sense of worth and the feeling that I truly get out more than I give. I have really enjoyed the time I have been volunteering in these roles, and others, since I started volunteering four years ago. What skills have you developed since joining the organisation? Communication and empathy. When picking up a passenger, I might be the first person they have spoken to all week and these skills really come into play. I have also learned, through training, about safeguarding potentially vulnerable people – how to spot the signs and respond to them. What difference does your volunteering make to others? We connect with people. This is not just a taxi service – we take people to appointments, wait for them until they finish, and return them home. We chat with them in the car and it’s lovely to connect on a human level, share stories and histories, particularly during a time that’s potentially not very pleasant for the patient. Would you recommend volunteering and, if so, why? Absolutely – it’s great to give back and do something positive. However small the contribution, you are making a difference and it’s a great thing. As long as I am fit and able, I want to carry on volunteering. Additional information: To find out more about Community Care North Bucks and the services on offer, visit the Community Care North Bucks website. If you need help getting to an appointment, please phone the Transport Hub on 0800 085 8480. If you are interested in setting up a Community Transport Scheme , find out how Community Impact Bucks can support you by visiting the Community Transport webpage. December 2023