It’s National Volunteer Week, and here at Strawberry Field we have many amazing volunteers who volunteer their time with us. The variety of skills and experience our volunteers bring is invaluable to work we do at Strawberry Field and we are so grateful. In exchange for their time and generosity, our volunteers are able to give back to the community and be part of the Strawberry Field story, while really making a difference to the lives of young people who are experiencing barriers to employment.

In honour of National Volunteer Week we spoke to Shakra, who volunteers with the Work Readiness course. Read on to learn about her experience volunteering with Strawberry Field.

Hi Shakra. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us about volunteering. Why did you decide to volunteer with Strawberry Field?

I chose to volunteer with Strawberry Field as I've been following the great work that the team do on the Steps to Work programme over the last few years. I had followed you on social media and it really resonated with me the importance of creating an inclusive society and creating the opportunity to support young adults in overcoming barriers into paid or voluntary employment, and how this can have such a major big impact on their lives. Most people take for granted being able to just step into employment and all the benefits this brings - the structure, the routine, self-confidence, self-worth, role identity, learning new skills and earning money. Spending power gives you choice and freedom.

Growing up I witnessed firsthand the difficulties faced by people in my life living with a disability, be it physical or mental health, and the struggles and barriers they face. I really wanted to be able to give my free time and feel like I'm putting it to good use, providing support to young people in my community to flourish and enable their independence.

What role do you fulfill at Strawberry Field?

The role I fulfill here at Strawberry Field is I volunteer on the Steps to Work programme. I volunteer one day a week providing one-to-one support to the trainees on the present cohort, who have just recently graduated from their classroom-based training course and have embarked on their first work experience placement within the Strawberry Field setting.

What skills and experiences have you brought to the volunteering role?

The skills and experiences I’ve brought to this volunteering role are around possessing empathy and compassion, which I think are fundamental to a volunteer in this specific role. I had really considered this volunteering role prior to applying and I have this innate need to really want to help others, and I truly care about the work that Strawberry Field does here. I try to provide a non-judgmental, open, honest, transparent, safe space for the trainees to build their skills and confidence. I also effectively bring communication skills, being able to adapt to each trainee's individual communication needs. Other important skills I feel I bring include being consistent and committed to the role, which builds trust with the trainees, which is so important.

How do you think volunteering at Strawberry Fields has added to your life?

I feel my experience here being a volunteer has really immensely added to my own personal life. It’s providing me with a feeling that I belong to a community and providing me with a sense of purpose. It's really hard to put into words how I feel when I finish my day volunteering here at Strawberry Field. I come away genuinely feeling humbled and happy knowing that I've been able to help others. I can't recommend enough to anyone the benefits of volunteering, and what that brings to your own mental health and well-being.

What have you learned from your volunteering experience?

I feel I've learned a lot from this volunteering experience. It's allowed me to be more present in the moment, which I feel is really important in this day and age. And to take a pause from the hecticness of my own work in life and day-to-day life. I've learned practical skills in becoming a mentor to the trainees I support. I've heard firsthand from neurodivergent young adults, how they often experience the world differently. And I've actively listened and learned about their unique perspectives, which has been invaluable to me to be able to provide tailored one-to-one support to them. My volunteering experience has encouraged me to take a more active role in being an advocate for inclusivity.

Are you interested in volunteering at Strawberry Field? Find out more about how you can volunteer with us here.

We also have our Steps to Volunteer programme for those who fill their time with valuable work but aren’t quite ready for paid employment. Find out more about Steps to Volunteering here.