My placement is nearing an end as a Volunteer Intern with Cookstown and Magherafelt Volunteer Centre.

I started my placement in September 2013 during my third year of my degree course in Consumer Studies at the University of Ulster in Coleraine.  In my placement I have gained valuable experience from working on a wide range of tasks within the Centre.

Before I officially started my placement I met with Barbara, Recruitment and Placement Officer and Michele, Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator in their Magherafelt office to discuss my role, the skills which I could offer and opportunities for involvement which could make a positive contribution to the work of the Centre and also enhance my learning experience and personal development.

I had four training days in mid- September which mainly involved induction about policies and work – shadowing Barbara, Michele and Joanne, Recruitment and Placement Officer in the Cookstown Office.

From the beginning I have been made very welcome as part of the team. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I settled in quite quickly and found there was always plenty of work to be getting on with.

As it would not be possible to detail all aspects of the work I was involved with I have outlined some examples in an effort to illustrate the variety of opportunities which are available in the life of a busy Volunteer Centre.

I had weekly supervision with Barbara to discuss my workload, training opportunities and my plan of work.  This provided me with the opportunity to discuss any problems or concerns I had.  

On a daily basis I assisted with the day to day running of the Volunteer Centre offices.  As raising public awareness is key to the success of the Volunteer Centre I was involved in a number of events and activities, the biggest of which was the Volunteer and Recruitment Fair held at Meadowbank Sports Arena in late 2013.

I had the opportunity to represent the Volunteer Centre at a range of events including NRC InfoFest 2013 and many other local Awareness and Information Events.

Student Volunteering Week saw me at the University of Ulster Campuses in Magee, Jordanstown and Coleraine to promote volunteering.  On the lead up to Valentine’s Day I organised a media campaign encouraging people to “Be the Heart of Your Community”.

Volunteering however is not all hard work – there are also social occasions, for example, the AGM and Celebration Evening held in Greenvale Hotel and the Millennium Volunteers Award Ceremony held in the Guildhall, Londonderry. Here I received my certificate for completing 200 hours of volunteering.

If this award is something you are not familiar with I would encourage you to find out more and get involved – it may be that you are already volunteering in a local youth club for instance, and these hours link together like building blocks.

Overall my experience has been very enjoyable and rewarding. Volunteering is not all one-sided; it’s not all about giving to the organisation and the community – there are many benefits for the volunteer in working individually or as part of a team, gaining experience in a wide variety of settings and learning new skills through attendance at courses.

In conclusion I would like to especially thank Barbara, Michele and Joanne for their help and encouragement.

Thanks also to all the staff and volunteers who helped make my placement a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.

 
Carolyn

Bob has been volunteering with the Witness Service for over 5 years and explains “As a self-employed software designer working from home I originally started volunteering because I wanted to get and out at meet people. After researching the volunteer opportunities in my area I found Victim Support Witness Service and it was exactly what I was looking for. 

I volunteer one day a week in my local courthouse providing support and assistance to witnesses attending court to give evidence. Every day in court is different which gives me the variety that I am looking for from volunteering. I get to meet people of all ages and from all walks of life. 

I really enjoy the social aspect of volunteering with Victim Support as our local team has the opportunities to meet up regularly through events organised by the local coordinator. My volunteer team is made up of a real mix of people, students, retired individuals and people who work part time but want to put their spare time to good use. Although we are different ages and have different life experiences the one thing we all have in common is that we are making a real difference. 

We know because that’s what witnesses tell us every day and there is no greater recognition as a volunteer. I never realised how much I would get out of volunteering otherwise I would have applied earlier and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about volunteering to go ahead and make the phone call because you definitely will not regret it”

Last October I attended the Cookstown and Magherafelt Volunteer Recruitment Fair at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt.  I was attracted to a few volunteering opportunities, one was with Agewell and their Good Morning Project and the other was AdviceNI for their Internet Champion Project.

I started volunteering with Agewell in November on a weekly basis. It is a thoroughly worthwhile experience. We call each person on the database at a particular time slot and chat to them about how they are feeling, any plans for that particular day. Some people like to chat for a while, whilst others are happy for a quick hello and be on their way. They are all very grateful for the call, particularly as some are living in rural areas and can be quite isolated. There are some characters and there is always a wee story to be heard. I find it a very uplifting experience and I hope to continue volunteering at Agewell for the foreseeable future.

The Internet Champion role with AdviceNI commenced in January for 12 weeks at Meadowell Fold Magherafelt.

Myself and Sarah from AdviceNI worked together showing a small group of 10 people how to use an ipad. Starting from taking photos, to web browsing, setting up email addresses and Skype. The group were extremely receptive and really found it easy to navigate around the ipad functions and applications. A couple of the group even went out week 2 and bought their own ipads!!

I even learnt a few new things myself which was great. As part of this 12 week programme AdviceNI invited me onto their Age Awareness 2 day course which was really eye opening and I learnt a lot about this topic. I have now completed the workbook and I hope to gain the accreditation for this course.

I recently gained employment with Oasis Caring in Action - Antrim on their Youthways project and I firmly believe the experiences shared and gained through my volunteering helped in getting the job.

I am very grateful for the opportunities that Agewell and AdviceNI have provided me with.

I would recommend volunteering to everyone. Even if you don't have much spare time, sometimes you could fit in some wee thing that could benefit the wider community as well as your own personal development.

Positive Futures is the leading local charity for people with a learning disability, acquired brain injury or autistic spectrum condition. Our aim is to transform the future of the people we support. We do that by enabling people to realise their hopes, dreams and ambitions. Our volunteers help us to do that.

Rodney Johnston has been supported by our Magherafelt Supported Living Service for over 15 years. He is supported by Ryan O’Neill, just one of our fabulous volunteers. Rodney and Ryan’s story illustrates how volunteering can help the people we support to be involved in their local community and live life as fully as possible. 

Rodney first met Ryan in January 2013 after our volunteer matching process was used to ensure they shared the same interests. To begin with, they met up once a week, building their relationship a little more each time they met. Rodney was really keen to start going to the local gym but needed support to do this. Ryan arranged for Rodney to have an induction at Greenvale Leisure Centre and since then Rodney and Ryan have been attending the leisure centre weekly. 

Rodney loves his time in the gym with Ryan and enjoys telling people about their friendship. He greatly values the male company, especially as he and Ryan have so much in common.  Rodney loves going on the rowing machine and Ryan is able to keep Rodney right when it comes to using the weights and other equipment. 

Rodney says: “Ryan is good craic and we love talking about sport, especially Liverpool FC!”

If you would like to make a difference in someone’s life in the same way Ryan has with Rodney, then be positive and join our team of volunteers supporting our Services across Northern Ireland. Call us on 028 9147 5720 or email us at volunteering@positive-futures.net.

Together we can achieve dreams and transform lives!  

www.positive-futures.net
www.facebook.com/positivefutures95
@pftweets

My name is Eileen Black, I’m married and have 3 grown up sons and when I retired from the Civil Service in 2010 after 20 years sitting behind a desk I promised myself never to work in an office again.  So on retiring I joined a local walking club, I revamped my garden and my little Jack Russell Finn got walked and walked and…!

October 2011 was my first encounter with the Macmillan Unit at Antrim Hospital to visit a patient who was a friend of mine.   To experience such dedication from the staff there and such peaceful surroundings for the patients and their families I just felt that I had to give some time to support people living with cancer.

I enquired how to become a volunteer and after completing the registration process I attended training offered to volunteers which helped to gain an insight into cancer and its various treatments.  I was allocated a role in Laurel House, just next door to the Macmillan Unit where I had been visiting my friend.

I volunteer one morning per week at Laurel House at Antrim Area Hospital which is an Out Patients’ Unit where people undergo cancer treatment.  My role as a volunteer involves supporting the patients at the Haemotology clinic every Thursday morning.  When I say supporting basically I mean I chat to them!  In a waiting room full of people I just have a look around and if someone is alone I will go and sit with them.  It may be that they are worried or apprehensive and I sit and they talk and I listen. Maybe they are worried about being out of work and I direct them to the appropriate person regarding benefits advice.  Sometimes it’s a person who has access difficulties so I will get them a cup of tea.

Each Thursday brings a new challenge as people’s needs differ.  If I can't help I have the support of the nursing staff and clerical staff in Laurel House and the Macmillan Support and Information Manager and Volunteer Coordinator - all of whom have made me very welcome and are always ready to help and advise me.

Being a people person I really enjoy meeting the patients and their families and getting to know them as they come back over the weeks for their treatments.  I am always amazed at their positivity and hope I might be helpful if only in a small way during their time in Laurel House.

If you have some free time and are interested in becoming a volunteer within Cancer Services and like me enjoy spending time with people then just do as I did and make that call!

If you would like to use your time and skills to support people living with cancer please contact 
Macmillan Volunteer Coordinator 
Elma McCracken on 
028 94 424394 
elma.mccracken@northerntrust.hscni.net or contact the Volunteer Centre.  


Other Volunteer Opportunities with Macmillan