Hi, I’m Amie, I’m currently volunteering as a Microvolunteer and Short Projects Assistant.
I joined the team in August 2021. I wanted to start my journey going back into the world of work. Being a carer myself, I felt Carers Leeds was an organisation that I believed in because it’s dedicated to supporting carers.
I am currently working on a project that is looking into barriers to volunteering and how Carers Leeds can reduce some of these to encourage more people from diverse communities to volunteer. I am extremely passionate about this due to having encountered barriers when going back into the world of work myself. I believe the work I’m doing could make a huge difference to people that may face barriers.
Before becoming a volunteer at Carers Leeds, I was a stay at home mum to a beautiful little boy and also undertook an Open University degree in Criminal Psychology, which I am extremely proud of. I find volunteering to be productive, enabling me to learn new skills and meet new people. I also feel like I am making a difference and giving back to the community. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering as it gives me a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging.
Volunteering at Carers Leeds has had a huge impact on my life by providing me with confidence and less doubt within myself. It has also encouraged me to learn new skills and try my best at everything I do. I also feel like my communication skills and team work skills have improved after several years out of work. I have completed training in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Infection Control. I can also take constructive feedback much better, as I used to see it as a negative, but now I see it as a way of improving my skills. I also have improved my computer skills particularly in Word and PowerPoint.
I was recently offered a full time job and I start at the beginning of April. I am going to be Debt Advisor at Step Change. The role will be the first point of contact for people with debt and helping them to find affordable solutions. However, due to the passion I have for Carers Leeds and the work they do, I would very much like to continue with the team. I would encourage anyone to volunteer for Carers Leeds as it is a brilliant organisation that has a really positive impact on the lives of carers. The team is brilliant at supporting you on your own individual journey and are easy to talk to. They are also warm and welcoming.
From my personal volunteering journey, I feel it has made me grow so much as a person, in both confidence and also in my desire to do well at the job I do; Carers Leeds is a great place to dedicate your free time to.
Amie’s message
“Be kind to yourself and believe in yourself and this will help you achieve what you want to in all aspects of life.”
Lovely article, thank you