Caroline's volunteer story
Caroline started her volunteering journey with support from Creative Steps and has volunteered her time and skills to a wide range or creative projects across Kirklees. Caroline currently volunteers as Insights and Impact Volunteer at One Community.
How did you find out about volunteering?
From a Creative Steps volunteering leaflet I picked up in Huddersfield Leisure Centre and then a meeting with Imogen, Third Sector Volunteering Project Co-ordinator, when we discussed what I was interested in and how the matching process works with creative groups and charities.
What type of activities do you usually do when you volunteer?
Mostly music related, for example, my first volunteer role was a week at The Watershed in Slaithwaite helping with their music workshops for 8 – 15 year olds. I have since volunteered on a few 6 Million+ projects, including Wear and Share and currently Freedom Desert, which involve creative arts and music making for performances at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. In the future I am looking to help at Hoot Creative Arts with a singing session. I’ve enjoyed a wide range of musical experiences and met lots of interesting people so far! I will be getting more involved with The Watershed as a trustee.
I saw the role description for the Insight and Impact volunteer at One Community and thought I could use some of my data skills and also learn more about how donations and grants are distributed to charities and community projects in Kirklees.
What do you like about your Volunteer role?
It’s great to feel part of the team at One Community; I have sat in on a funding panel and met some of the trustees. I am learning new software as well as providing some training. I get lots of support, so it’s been a very rich and rewarding experience.
I wanted a longer term project so this has been ideal for me. There are several volunteers at One Community, each with their own set of skills, so there’s plenty of opportunity to learn, as well as getting feedback from the One Community team.
How has volunteering made a difference to you?
I really enjoy learning new things and sometimes these have been outside my comfort zone, so this has boosted my confidence and self-worth. I have enjoyed helping young people and adults with music as I was lucky to have a rich musical upbringing and I feel music should be part of everyone’s lives in some form or another.
I have also got to know new people which has helped me settle in the area as a relative newcomer.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your volunteering experience?
One of the best experiences was seeing someone at a creative experience becoming more confident and expressing themselves through music as the project progressed. More recently, at One Community, I was moved to hear about some of the hardships faced by local communities and what is being done to help them.
If you would like some help to start your volunteer journey please get in touch.