Meet two of our brilliant Lead Volunteers; Rosie & Henry.
Rosie & Henry are Lead Volunteers on our LOL Fridays youth group for young people with Downs Syndrome. They both have been with SVC for a few years now, and they would like you to know why they have enjoyed Lead Volunteering so much, and why they believe that you should apply to be a Lead Volunteer too!
Rosie: The step up from volunteer to lead volunteer inevitably involves taking on a larger role within the running of a project, but you are supported throughout by your fellow lead volunteer(s) and/or the SVC staff. The role of lead volunteer comes with the responsibility of organising and running the project as your own, which enables lead volunteers to work together to make the project the best it can be for the beneficiaries. Seeing how much they enjoy the project that you have developed and receiving appreciation from their families is incredibly rewarding. I leave every session with a huge smile on my face, knowing the effort that we put in as volunteers is all worth it! As well as this, the role of lead volunteer allows you to develop many personal skills including teamwork, organisation and communication which are great for future employability. Although I was apprehensive about becoming a lead volunteer at first, I thoroughly enjoy the role and would encourage other volunteers who are considering becoming a lead to make the jump, as the projects need us!
Henry: Having volunteered with my project during the first two years of university, the natural step was to become lead volunteer during my 3rd year. The role of lead volunteer require a much more hands-on approach towards the project, which carries with it added responsibilities and duties. The nice thing about SVC is there’s a wide range of projects with different levels of additional work needed for each. This means that your lead volunteering role can be balanced nicely with your university work load. The staff in the office are super helpful in guiding you in leading the project, and are always happy to answer any questions you have. Being lead volunteer feels a real step up from being a regular volunteer, and for me, the extra input I am able to give is really rewarding. There are also of course many transferable skills that look really good on job applications and CVs! I’ve loved working with SVC, and implore anyone who thinks they’d be suited to a lead volunteer role should definitely apply - as without lead volunteers, the amazing projects SVC run simply can’t take place.
