National Volunteer Week
In celebration of National Volunteers Week, we wanted to share the volunteering experiences of some GOOD people. GOOD employees are encouraged to take 2 volunteer days a year. So this week we’re taking inspiration from the people already doing great things, sharing their experiences and inspiring others to get involved in volunteering in any capacity they can.
Jessica Sargent – Junior Planner
My first volunteering experience was in a centre for people experiencing homelessness in Acton, West London, during my summer holidays. I’d noticed the rise in street homelessness around where I lived and worked and wanted to help. I loved welcoming our guests, the manic rush to cook and serve the food led by a formidable retired chef, and chatting while washing up at the industrial sinks.
I kept volunteering with similar organisations for several years. Some of my favourite memories are playing cards with guests or going out for a team curry with other volunteers at the Julian Trust emergency night centre in St Paul’s, Bristol. Getting to know our guests, hearing their experiences and gaining an understanding of our housing system cemented a passion for this cause which I’m now lucky enough to harness in my day job at GOOD.
Another unforgettable experience was volunteering in Caribbean Guatemala with the team at FUNDAECO. I spent 3 weeks learning about their network of ecotourism sites, community projects and protected areas, to support their communications team in bringing responsible tourism to the area to help fund their work. In the 3 weeks I spent volunteering with FUNDAECO I learned an unquantifiable amount about the realities of working on the front line of conservation and was adopted into a family who I hope will be lifelong friends.
The age-old cliché about volunteering is undoubtedly true. While I hope that I’ve helped these organisations and the people they work with in some small way, I know I’ve got so much more back. This National Volunteers’ Week, I’m thinking about everyone I’ve met and everything I’ve learned – and hope that others are inspired to do the same.
Jane Sherratt – People’s Manager
When we went in to the first lockdown, my village set up a volunteering group to support residents as many of the elderly residents stopped going out completely. As we are both working from home we wanted to do what we could to help. There is one shop in the village, and its paper round was full, but there were several requests on how to get a daily newspaper.
We already had our papers delivered from a neighbouring town, so the solution was to have another paper added on to our own order.
Every morning, I walk around to Mary and drop her paper off. It is weird because I have never met her, although she did leave us a Christmas card addressed to the paperboy! Then last summer there was another request. Liz was recently widowed and suffers mild dementia. So, now every morning, I have a mini paper round. I have now met Liz, and she sometimes opens her front door to say thank you.
Lucy Martin – Marketing Executive
I volunteer as a Boobette for the breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel. Boobette’s are people who spread Coppafeel’s mission to drive awareness of breast & chest health and empower people to get to know their bodies! The pandemic has meant opportunities to ‘get out and about’ to spread the word have been limited, but when in-person events return you’ll find me with my gigantic boob strapped to my back, chatting all things boob health, and handing out a selection of educational goodies (from shower stickers to badges!) to make sure every person feels empowered to self-examine! Shameless plug: if you want to sign up for a monthly reminder to check your boobs/chest text BOOBETTES to 70300
Tiziano Summo – Art Director
Whilst living in Italy, I volunteered for a non for profit called FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano), the national trust of Italy, with over 190,000 members. Much like the National Trust do in the UK they aim to protect and enhance the Italian historical, artistic and landscape heritage. I used to dedicate a few days a year of my time to them to help anyway I could.
We hope that the experiences of others have inspired you to take up some volunteering, whether it be giving blood or helping at a soup kitchen. Volunteering comes in so many forms, so if you’re interested find something you’re passionate about and help out where you can. Your gesture can make a massive impact on someone’s life as well as your own. After a year of feeling helpless, lets make this year a year to be helpful.
Posted by Katie Daley
