I am a befriender with Connection Support, I take my ‘friend’ out for a coffee each week and we talk about different things and catch up about our week.
I wanted to volunteer because I wanted to give something back to the community but also to be able to help people.
Though I already had certain skills, I feel that they have improved as a result of volunteering, such as communication and empathy. I feel I have also become more kinder, more understanding and my listening skills have improved.
I would definitely recommend volunteering to anyone thinking about it. The process isn’t daunting, it’s straightforward and there is choice in what capacity you would like to volunteer. I volunteered as a befriender and with that role, I was able to choose who I would like to be a ‘friend’ to which I really liked.
The Volunteer and Peer Mentor Coordinator has been great to work with, has answered questions and supported with the initial meet.
The actual volunteering part is really nice, I have loved every minute of it and it’s nice to know that I am having a positive impact on that person’s life too.
