What feels like small actions…
This month we met up with Emily, a recent graduate who is part of Woodlands Metro church. She shared about how she has been spending her time over the summer to get more involved in local community initiatives…
What have you been doing?
I received a message from my university about the foodbank needing some volunteers, and so helped out with one session there. It was my first time volunteering for some time.
This summer, having recently finished university and my new job not starting until September, I knew I would have more time on my hands and decided it would be a great time to do some more volunteering. Tilly from North Bristol Foodbank shared with me about a local youth centre called ‘The Vench’. I’d not come across them before, but really liked the sound it! The team at The Vench were going to be running summer holiday play sessions for young people and needed volunteers to help with cooking meals to be served at lunchtime. The opportunity really connected with my interests, and so, I decided this was the perfect volunteering opportunity for me this summer. If it hadn’t been for me volunteering at the foodbank, I would have had no idea The Vench even existed.
Volunteering at The Vench has given structure to my week, during the summer holidays, and has been a good way to get to know both the local community and a wider area of Bristol than my previous experience as a student.
Looking ahead, my aim for this coming year is to work fewer hours, to have the time to volunteer - focusing less on money and more on ‘meaningful’ work. It’s an important value for me because I feel a call to serve the community.
Why is that an important value for you?
I’ve always wanted a job where I’m making a difference in people’s lives, not necessarily in a direct way. Lots of my friends work lots of hours and feel pressured to do things alongside that, but seem quite burnt out.
This desire I have comes from reading the Bible and hearing Jesus talk about serving others, as well as things about not idolising money. I don’t want money to be my main focus coming out of university.
What are your plans when this role ends?
After the summer, I would like to continue volunteering here during school holidays, as my new job will be term time only. I’m also keen to dedicate at least one evening a week to doing something in a voluntary capacity.
I’m not sure what yet, but it’s crazy how working in places like this, even just a couple of times, you hear about other roles that you’ve never heard about before.
I’ll be doing some research and finding other local initiatives in Bristol which will hopefully open up some roles.
What has the impact of you being here been?
For me, it’s helped me to get to know a wider area of Bristol. Being at uni, I wasn’t aware of all the local communities and initiatives that are around the city. It’s been great getting to know people from a range of ages too.
I hope my time here has had a positive impact on others, especially the children that are here. Obviously, cooking and serving meals for them has made a difference, but with the role being a bit more ‘behind the scenes’ the impact isn’t always obvious.
You don’t have to have a front-facing role to be able to contribute. There are often lots of roles ‘behind the scenes’ and often those are the really important ones that people don’t always think of.
It’s nice to know that even what feels like small actions, to me, like cooking a meal, can have a larger impact on other people and their day.
What keeps you coming back?
I really like this place and love how they let children play and connect with nature here. Each time I come, I get to know everyone here more and see the children develop. I look forward to it each week!
What would you say to someone else who is seeking to do something similar?
To others who are seeking to do something similar and use volunteering to get more involved in their community, I would say to start by looking at where your skills and interests lie. Enjoyment is important. For me, it was cooking and working with children, which is what The Vench role involves.
I’d also say, have courage to go somewhere new and try something. I just started with just trying one afternoon of volunteering somewhere and then more things opened up as a result. Even if it’s just once or twice, it gives you an insight about what you might want to do, or lets you know about other roles you might not have heard of before.
Do you want to find a volunteering opportunity in your community?
Sharing your time and skills for free, for the benefit of others, is an incredibly generous act of love and care, but where do you start?
We’ve created a ‘how-to guide’ to answer that question! Click here