Organisation

Tayside foundation for the conservation of resources

What kind of volunteering do you do?

Administration work in a recycling centre in Dundee.

Can you describe an average day in your volunteering life?

No - because every day is different! Some days are busier than others. This, however, makes by volunteering more enjoyable as nothing becomes routine.

Do you have to be a particular kind of person to volunteer?

I don't think so. Volunteering is the same as paid work. You need, at times, to be patient, understanding and sometimes tolerant.

Do you think your volunteering makes a difference to others?

Yes. I volunteer with a registered charity that cannot afford to pay a member of staff to do my job but can afford to pay me expenses to volunteer with them. I feel that I am making a difference to the running of this charity.

And finally, what do you personally get out of volunteering?

Work experience, self-confidence. As time went on I was given more responsibility which I thoroughly enjoyed. After several years of being unemployed I had the confidence and the experience to apply for a full-time job for which I was successful in getting. I am now in full time employment. I don't think I would have been considered before without the voluntary experience. Volunteering has certainly paid off for me!