Volunteering Stories
Aaron's Volunteering Story
I was a student at Bolton University between 2007 and 2009 I completed a graduate diploma in psychology (degree conversion course) in January 2009.
I first started working within mental health as a volunteer for the mental health charity MhIST (Mental Health Independent Support Team); at the time I was unemployed and seeking to gain experience in the mental health sector. I started at MhIST in February 2009 as a volunteer administrator; shortly after starting I completed an Advocacy Level 2 course and became a volunteer Mental Health Advocate and started to work with clients with mental health issues. In November 2009 I became an ambassador for MhIST working 3 hours a week on permitted earnings. Throughout this time I continued to apply for jobs without any success but my voluntary work gave me many new skills and knowledge about mental health and mental health services and I became more confident. In April 2010 3 paid positions at MhIST came up and I applied for all 3 and was thrilled to find out I had been selected for the role as Older Person's Mental Health Advocate.
Advocacy involves speaking up for clients, putting forward their wants and needs, giving them a voice and helping them find solutions to practical problems in their lives and helping them access services. In addition to this my role involves promoting the service through networking, giving presentations and delivering training.
In April 2011 I saw a vacancy for the role of employment worker at STEPS and applied for this job and was successful, both roles are part time which means that currently I work at MhIST for 3 days a week and work at STEPS 2 days a week.
My role at Steps involves helping people to find employment or return to education; I provide help with all aspects of finding a job including: creating a CV, job searching, completing application forms, interview techniques and interview practice and any other help an individual needs. We are looking to run training days on employability skills, confidence building, assertiveness skills, health and safety in the future.
Also at STEPS we offer volunteer placements in our projects: these include: Administration, Accounts, Buffet service, Cafe Eden and Fix IT (a computer repair project).
For more information about STEPS contact myself or see our website www.boltonsteps.org.uk|
From Aaron Lohan - posted October 28th 2011
Bolton Lads' & Girls' Club - National Citizen Service Summer 2011
Originally, I decided to get involved with the NCS project because I needed experience with young people in order to get onto a PGCE course, which I plan to undertake next September. I had no idea what it was for, or what it was about. I went to the interview and was pleasantly surprised when I found out it involved outdoor activities such as; rock climbing, canoeing and an expedition. I also had no idea what I was expecting from it as I had never done anything like this before.
I had such an amazing time getting to know the young people and building a relationship with them, which I felt was filled with trust. I thoroughly enjoyed the first residential week away, but had doubts about the second. Admittedly the second residential week was tougher, not physically but mentally, with the young people being in a familiar environment that they could explore themselves was difficult at points, but all the same I enjoyed it. I built up very good relationships with my staff team and support network and it was nice to feel as if I could go to them with anything. The third week was rewarding, I felt like I had made a change with the young people specifically when they told me that they would like to volunteer to!
I thoroughly recommend this project to young people and staff alike.
from Tiffany Woods - 5th September 2011
Children's Opportunity Group, Bolton - C.O.G
My name is Karen McGovern and I am a 2nd year student on a joint degree in Community Studies and Education.
Bolton Children's Opportunity Group (C.O.G.) is a registered charity, founded in 1979 by Nicola McGuiness to help children with special educational needs, based at Lowndes Street Nursery, Lowndes Street, Bolton BL1 4QB. Here at Lowndes Street in Bolton there are fully inclusive Play Sessions every morning, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon, which caters for children aged from 2½ to 5 years of age. All activities here are geared towards the achievement of Early Learning Goals. Children with special needs have individual programmes designed to encourage development of social, cognitive, motor, language and self help skills.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons there are 'Tweenies' sessions. These cater for children from 6 weeks to 2½ years. Babies with special needs are introduced to early physical and sensory stimulation. Older children are introduced to a more structured routine and to activities that are on offer in the play sessions.
There is also the 'Blue Room' which caters for four children at a time with autistic spectrum disorders, in their 'pre-school' year. These children have their own structured programme of activities but also join the morning play sessions for some activities.
Finally, there is the Nurture Group. The children that attend this are from Reception and Year 1 classes. They attend for two consecutive days each week, and attend their mainstream school for the other three days, usually for a minimum of two terms and a maximum of four. These are children with challenging behaviours who find it difficult to access Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Nurture Group children follow a timetable throughout the day, the main aim of which is to help children gain, through play, everyday skills such as sharing, using basic manners, 'kind hands and words' and 'listening ears'. Staff work closely with parents, outreach workers, schools and Bolton Partnership Services, which is also based within C.O.G.
Doing my voluntary placement within the Nurture Group has actually been a wonderful experience for me and I have learnt a lot about the children, their special needs and what Nurture Group actually entails. When people ask me what I do there, I answer "play all day". This usually gets me a look as if I am quite insane, although I think I am quite lucky.
I still do my volunteering day here every week although I have completed the 'required' hours of my placement, and have also gained paid employment with the group for two days each week.
I plan to continue volunteering until at least July when these children leave. Some may be integrated back into everyday school life. As well as having had fun-filled hours at Nurture group, including outings to Dave's Aquarium (Bolton) and my father's allotment, I have gained a Team Teach accredited qualification, and it has been an experience I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
I would tell anyone who is looking to work within the chidren's sector to seriously consider giving Nurture Group a whirl as they will not only gain a lot of expereince but love it into the bargain.