Volunteering Works
Stephen’s story
Stephen completed the Volunteering Works programme in June having achieved his SQA Employability Award. His volunteering placement was with Spruce Carpets in their warehouse where he’s still actively volunteering and taking advantage of training opportunities for fork-lifting and his CSCS card.
What is your volunteer role and what does it involve?
- I work as a warehousing assistant at Spruce Carpets, a charity that provides affordable floor covering for low income households by recycling domestic carpets. I am involved in the cleaning and refurbishing of carpets and help with storing and displaying.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Spruce Carpets?
- I joined Volunteer Glasgow’s “volunteering works” programme, as I hadn’t worked for a while and wanted to get some up to date work experience.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteering?
- It gives me experience and I can also get access to training such as fork lift training and a CSCS card.
Tell us about a highlight of your volunteering.
- Volunteering Works was enjoyable and gave me the chance to meet other young people who were in a similar situation and also being able to try different types of volunteering.
How has volunteering helped you personally? What does it mean to you?
- It has helped me get experience which I hope will help me to go on and get paid employment
What’s the one thing you would tell someone about volunteering?
- It is good fun, gets you out and about, you also meet lots of new people and it will hopefully help me get a job. It is much better than sitting at home doing nothing.
Stephen appeared in the Glaswegian newspaper’s ‘Giving to Glasgow’ column in September 2013
If you’re 18-24, unemployed and living in Glasgow, contact Tara or Billy about joining the next Volunteering Works programme:
0141 226 3431 ( Mon – Thurs 9.30 to 4.30 or Fri 9.30 to 3.00)
tara.bentley@volunteerglasgow.org
billy.mcfarlane@volunteerglasgow.org
Image © Volunteer Glasgow/Spruce Carpets
