We wanted to share some lovely stories from our Volunteering Hub on Insight and how volunteering is helping people with learning disabilities. It is so good to see great things happening!
Meet David: a Creator Volunteer
David is one of our many volunteers with a learning disability. He comes to our Volunteering Hub Creator sessions in Cardiff, he always brings brilliant ideas and feedback to our meetings.
David loves that we listen to his ideas in these sessions. He even helped write a great article for our Volunteering Hub that we want to share with you.
David’s story: in his own words
My volunteering role
Hi, I’m David, and I volunteer at the Marie Curie charity shop in Whitchurch.
I learned about Marie Curie because my mum was at their hospice in Penarth.
Marie Curie is a charity that helps people who are at the end of their life.
The money we get from the shop helps them, and this is very important to me. It’s close to my heart.
Flexible volunteering
I volunteer 4 days a week, usually for a few hours each time.
I’m very flexible, so when they need me, I come and help. I get to choose what jobs I do.
My knees aren’t very good, so I don’t sweep and mop the floor too often, just once a month.
I find the till hard, but I can still stand next to it to say hello to customers.
Team work
Everyone helps me when I volunteer here. All the other volunteers and staff support me. We work as a team.
When we need to carry heavy boxes, we do it together. They always show me what to do.
I also do some things by myself. It’s good to be independent and work as a team.
Why I love volunteering
I really like it here. I like meeting people. It’s good for my mind. I enjoy being social when I volunteer.
All the volunteers at the shop go to the Plough Inn twice a year for a drink and a chat. I really like this.
Volunteering here has made me feel better about meeting new people.
Recognition for my volunteering
I have been volunteering here for over five years. I got a certificate at an event at the hospice in Penarth. This was an award for volunteering for five years.
I am very proud of this. I earned it!
David is a great help to the Whitchurch shop. He has volunteered for over 5 years. Helping volunteers with learning disabilities is good for everyone.
David is great at tagging and steaming clothes and helping us get things ready to sell. David also helps with cleaning and sorting donations.
He likes checking DVDs and CDs to make sure they are not scratched and are in good condition. He has a good eye for detail.
Hear more stories on our Volunteering Hub
David’s article is such a lovely example of how good volunteering can be. It shows how much it helps the person volunteering and the place they volunteer.
You can read more volunteering stories just like David’s on our Volunteering Hub.
