Emily volunteers with C3SC as a Community Outreach volunteer, hosting drop-in sessions that help people across Cardiff find the right volunteering opportunity for them.
She told us, ‘I came across the opportunity on the Volunteering Wales website and was interested to find out more. As I had some more spare time, I thought that it would be an ideal opportunity to gain professional experience and new skills. The chance to make a positive impact in the community was also something that appealed to me when I applied.‘
After an induction and a few weeks shadowing staff, Emily was soon running sessions independently – and says the experience has boosted her confidence and given her a real understanding of the third sector in Wales. Reflecting on the difference volunteering has made to Emily, she said, ‘Volunteering has definitely helped with my confidence in dealing with enquiries from the public and interacting with a wide variety of people. It has been very rewarding to make volunteering more accessible for others and I have enjoyed learning more about the third sector in Wales and how it operates. Hopefully my volunteering has had a positive impact on those who attend the drop-in sessions and that they can now easily access and take part in their own volunteering opportunities.‘
Looking ahead, Emily hopes to continue engaging with a wide variety of people through her volunteering and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share her enthusiasm and what a difference a few weeks of volunteering can make – both personally and those she engages with.
If like Emily, you’d like to get involved with volunteering, get in touch with the Cardiff Volunteer Centre @C3SC. We can support individuals and groups into volunteer schemes based on your skills, interests and aspirations. Email us at enquiries@c3sc.org.uk or call us on 02920 485 722 to make an enquiry – we’d be happy to help.
