Volunteer Experiences

Volunteer Experiences

Volunteer Experience - Lorna Hanney

"I attended an IT support session last week at Neath Library and wanted to let you know how useful it had been, and to pass on my appreciation for the support given by one of your volunteers.

Rhiannon ran the group and proved to be the most helpful person i have encountered in groups since becoming unemployed last year

Each participant was given significant individual attention and all needed very different assistance

Every person was treated with dignity, patience and friendliness 

The technical skill Rhiannon had, outstripped everybody else who was helping and each intervention made, was given with willingness and warmth

i strongly commend Rhiannon's approach and ability 

what an asset you have 

warm appreciation" 

Lorna Hanney


Volunteer Experience - Syari

"I think its a great thing to volunteer. I approached Stuart  Morgan with my interest to volunteer and Being a volunteer gave me the opportunity to experience something completely different to anything I had been involved in before. I had the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and contribute to the community through participating in various community activities. I would like to thank Stuart and other fellow volunteers for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to volunteer for Get NPT Online project and to get involved in certain courses (Personal Safety and Counselling) which I enjoyed thoroughly. It was great spending time with the fellow volunteers and sharing our knowledge and experiences. It is a good feeling seeing someone smile when you do something different or help them out.

Thank You"

Regards,

Syari

Volunteer Experience - Callum

"Following my graduation from university, my employment advisor suggested that I look into undertaking a period of volunteering in order to boost my skill-set whilst I searched for paid work. I was subsequently signed on to a work placement at Melincryddan Community Conference (MCC), for an initial eight-week period. My role at the MCC was primarily office based, with the time spent taking phone calls, dealing with members of the public, filing, updating and maintaining electronic databases, and providing general support to the head administrator. The role also included volunteering at one of the charity’s many I.T. workshops, where I, as part of a team, was expected to provide support to members of the public who were experiencing difficulties with their electronic devices. Through taking part in these classes, I quickly came to realise the crucial work that the MCC carries out in the locality, with these classes acting not only as a means of education, but also helping members of the public get into employment themselves, and, in the case of many elderly clients, offering a regular opportunity to socialise.

For me, the purpose of undertaking this venture was to accelerate my progress into full-time paid employment, a goal that I achieved within five weeks of beginning the placement. I very much believe that the skills that I developed during this short time contributed a great deal towards this accomplishment, helping me to develop both my communication and I.T. skills, as well as providing me with a platform from which I could put into practice the customer service skills that I had developed during a period of prior employment.

As well as proving useful in providing me with an opportunity to build upon my skills, the placement was also a period upon which I will look back fondly. My time spent in the office was often enjoyable, whilst the I.T. workshops afforded me the opportunity to go into the community and work with as broad a range of people as you could imagine. Subsequently, I would highly recommend the MCC to any individual looking either to gain experience via a work placement, or looking to volunteer generally, and am very proud of the Millennium Award that I have received for completing a minimum of fifty-hours service."

- Callum


Volunteer Experience - Matthew Williams

Hi Stuart, 

Thanks for helping me get back into work (very grateful to you for this) I've been working with Apollo teaching for a while now and it's going very well at the moment. 

How's the projects going? Hope they're going well, because you all work so hard on it and deserve the success that it brings. 

Let me know if there's anything I can help with, sometimes I might have some days off, so I'll be free to help with any projects. 

Best regards, 

Matthew Jose-Williams

Volunteer Experience 5

In today’s fast paced life it is a shame that not many people have the time to commit to volunteer on local projects. After being made redundant from a busy career in teaching and lecturing I found myself with time on my hands.

I was keen to work and feel part of my local area of Neath Port Talbot and to build relationships with existing organisations and individuals that could utilise my experience and skills.

From the moment I met Stuart the Volunteer Coordinator, I knew it was the right path.  His passion for the Get NPT Online project is infectious and he provides great support and encouragement and you never feel as if you are working alone.

I have met a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life who have so many interesting life stories that I would not have had the opportunity of meeting if I hadn’t become a volunteer. I have found helping others very rewarding - from the smallest achievement of attaching a file to an email or success at finding employment. Being able to work with beneficiaries on a 1:1 basis is an advantage as it enables you to quickly build up a rapport and support their individual needs. 

All the volunteers I work with are willing to help out if you are stuck and are all working to the common goal of providing support to the local community.  The clothing provided makes us stand out as a team.

Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteering and you can never tell who you will meet or what new information you will learn and the impact this could have on your life. With the right qualifications there are opportunities to progress and develop and in my case become a paid tutor.  Being able to mentor other volunteers is encouraged and a key part of the volunteering ethos so that everyone has the opportunity of entering paid employment.

Working on this project has been so much fun.  I have made so many new friends and been involved in exciting new opportunities. I would recommend volunteering to anyone. 


Volunteer Experience - Alan Ferrell

Alan has been volunteering on the GET NPT Online project since April 2015 and originally started volunteering on Fridays in Neath Library supporting beneficiaries gain new IT Skills .What attracted Alan to volunteering on the GET NPT Online project was his interest in working on computers, Alan has been a great asset to the project in looking after the laptops doing regular   Anti Virus checks and updates on the laptops. In April 2016 Alan increased is volunteering to five days a week and has been a great support helping in the daily running of  the IT  drop in sessions in Neath and Skewen Library.    

Alan recently supported MCC deliver a presentation with the Communities First team on the success of the volunteer model in supporting beneficiaries getting online in   the Digital Cultural Change event for Neath Port Talbot Council.

Alan has recently successfully completed his Digital Champion training course with Digital Wales in February 2016 which  helped develop his confidence in supporting people successfully get on line.   Alan has worked in partnership with the Neath Communities Health Team to pilot project working on Fibit which is linking   Health and Well being with   IT  skills.  This has progressed to Alan supporting MCC volunteers deliver a further Fitbit project working with Neath Port Talbot Stroke group.

Alan in November 2016  got involved in assisting to pioneer a new IT skills session delivering IT support to young people being supported by  Dewis Housing.

Alan has now decided that he going to take a new volunteering opportunity gaining experience on working with building and refurbishing IT equitment. 

Volunteer Experience - Thomas Bawden

Thomas did a work placement in June/ July 2016 with Melincryddan Community Conference and   fitted into the  GET NPT Online project straight away and worked well as a good team member with the rest of the volunteers on the GET NPT Online  project. Thomas has good IT skills and has been able to pass that knowledge onto the beneficiaries that the MCC work with who have been able to gain confidence is using the IT equipment successfully.  He is well liked with the beneficiaries that the MCC works with and is always willing to help. He is flexible and is always willing to work where required on the project.

Thomas has been a great help in supporting MCC work in partnership with Coastal Housing deliver a Five Step Programme  over a five week period in the Afan Communities First area and helped show the effectiveness of volunteers supporting paid staff deliver basic IT skills.

Thomas has also been involved in supporting the Neath Communities First team launch Cyber Studies to support clients learn basic IT skills.

Thomas has recently completed a two day Digital Champion training course which is accredited,

Due to Thomas being under 25 years old he has received two  Millennium Volunteer  award (50/100hours) presented by NPTCVS.

Although Thomas finished his Work placement in July he has continued to volunteer on the GET NPT Online project.

Thomas during the month of October  2016 has been successful in getting a part time job (20hours) working in One Stop Stores in Skewen.  Below is a link of a film of Thomas sharing his experience on the GET NPT Online project.

Watch my story here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lTIwNCS-14


Volunteer Experience - David Anthony

David was referred to the GET NPT Online project  to volunteer by his DWP advisor  in June 2016  and started to volunteer on the 23rd June 2016 . I then referred David for further support and training to Nia Dix project and have been working in partnership with Nia to support David gain training and work experience with the aim of helping him successfully gain employment.

David took part in the London 2012 Paralympics and represented Great Britain in rugby and finished fifth out of eight teams. David has a great sense of humour and is a great team member who is able encourages the beneficiaries we work with successfully gain new IT skills.

David  has volunteer three days a week in Communities First Cyber Studies project and Job Club session on Tuesdays and Thursdays. David has recently started to help pioneer a new IT session in Cwmafan Library on Wednesday afternoons and has already made a impact in encouraging people to attend the new IT drop in session.

In September 2016 David helped support Afan Communities First team run the Job Fair in Princess Theatre, Port Talbot. David was helping out on reception directing employers to their stands and directing people coming in to the job fair looking for work where to go as well as supporting them fill in the relevant forms. David shared that he enjoyed that day meeting the Employers and working alongside the Communities first team.

David is very flexible  on the project,  as recently we were short of volunteers support in a Cyber Studies session in Cwmafan Library and he immediately went in his car and straight over to support run the session.   David shared that the warm welcoming environment that he works in with staff and other volunteers on the project has helped him grow in confidence.

David received a award for volunteering  support that he supports with the GET NPT Online project in June 2017. 

Volunteer Experience - Jonathan

Jonathan has fitted well into the project from day one and has been a great asset in passing his IT knowledge on to the beneficiaries that MCC work with  daily. Jonathan played an important role in supporting this person on the project. Here is some feedback on what they had to say about the support they received .

"For some time I have been attending the drop-in sessions at Neath Library and have found all staff and volunteers very helpful, kind and knowledgeable.  I must explain that I am almost 80yrs young, disabled and deaf.  I have not been discriminated against in any way, and everyone - library staff as well as I.T. personnel have gone out of their way to accommodate my needs and shown patience with my loss of hearing, willingly repeating the conversation when I have not heard or lip read." 

Jonathan has been a great support to this person in helping them understand how to use their Apple Mac effectively.

He  has been a great help in supporting MCC work in partnership with Coastal Housing deliver a Five Step Programme  over a five week period in the Afan Communities First area and helped show the effectiveness of volunteers supporting paid staff deliver basic IT skills.

Jonathan has been very flexible on the project  and is prepared to travel wherever support is required. He has been recently a great help  in supporting one of the retired volunteers run a job club session in Port Talbot Library on Fridays.

Jonathan has also been involved in supporting the Neath Communities First team launch a  Cyber Studies project  on Tuesdays  to support clients learn basic IT skills.

Jonathan has  completed a two day Digital Champion training course  with Digital Communities Wales which is accredited.

Volunteer Experience - Aimee

Aimee started volunteering with the Melincryddan Community Conference (MCC) in June 17 and has been a great asset to the GET NPT Online project. Aimee has great people skills and engages well on the project giving 1 to 1 IT support to the beneficiaries MCC support.

                                                                                                  

MCC had the opportunity of putting a work placement in to Port Talbot Job Centre in July  this year to give IT support  to DWP customers using the Learn My Way module and Aimee jumped at the opportunity. Aimee has been great in pioneering this role for MCC and has not just supported the Job Advisors with giving 1 to 1  IT support but has also delivered and created  PowerPoint presentations to the group sessions to DWP customers sharing relevant information.

The job centre has been so pleased with Aimee progress that they have extended her placement which has given her the opportunity to mentor further work placements that the MCC will put in the job centre,

Aimee shares her volunteer experience in her own words below. 

Tell me what you do as a volunteer (on your work placement) 

• Present power point presentation sessions
• Make power points
• Help customers on the computer
• Type up documents, answer the phone and pass on the information
• Work on front of house helping and directing customers in the right direction

How did you first get involved ? What were your reasons for doing so ?

I wanted to keep myself busy and it sounded like a great opportunity to help people and learn new skills.  

How did your volunteer centre (MCC)  help ?  

Provided me with all the  paperwork  and help and  support I could ask for.

Has your volunteering lead to any significant development that you want to highlight (e.g. if it has lead you to new employment, or a life changing decision)

While on work placement I came to realize how much I really do  love to help people while realizing I have a passion and to want to be a trainer and love the rush of standing up in front of a group of people.

Can you describe volunteering in one sentence?

Volunteering is an act of offering yourself for a good cause for no charge.

Is there anything else you would like to say ?

If you ever have the chance to volunteer I would suggest that you take the opportunity to do it as it’s an experience to help others and find out more about yourself from your likes and dislikes etc

Many Thanks

Aimee 

Volunteer Experience - Christopher

Christopher has completed a  eight week DWP work placement with Melincryddan Community Conference (MCC) . Christopher was involved in working on the GET NPT Online project in giving one to one support in Cyber Studies, Job Club and  IT support sessions in Cwmafan and Neath Library. Working on the project helped built up his confidence supporting beneficiaries get online. After finishing the eight week placement with MCC , Christopher has decide to continue volunteering with the Afan Communities First team working on the Cyber Studies project and Job Club sessions in Cwmafan Library. 

Christopher shares in his own words about his volunteer experience on the project

MCC Review

"I have gained more confidence in using a computer in the workspace during my time as a volunteer. I have also gained more confidence in helping other people get online and helping them understands computer basics. I have greatly enjoyed my time volunteering with the company and it has helped me gain more confidence in helping others seek out employment."

Volunteer Experience - Daniel Millar

"Thank you

I would like to thank you and all others involved for making my brief time volunteering with yourselves not only beneficial towards gaining experience towards a career but also an enjoyable experience in which I gained new personal skills, attuned old skills while at the same time feeling comfortable and welcome. I have found my confidence greatly boosted. 

I am glad I took the time to volunteer with yourselves. The commitment from the volunteers to help as many people as they could with equal commitment to make them feel they had their full attention was astounding and made me realize that alterations were needed to myself to better accommodate the needs of the client. I have no doubt that these changes have bettered me as a person.

 

Once again,

THANKYOU"

Dan