Volunteering at UKC can help people rebuild
their confidence and life after diagnosis, writes UKC deputy chief executive,
Aidan Keightley
Photos: Antonio Maggi
Mercy
Banda says she came to UKC in “dire need of support”. Through
volunteering, she found much to offer others in the same boat.
“My life was stressful following my HIV diagnosis. I needed to speak
to someone who understood. My life was transformed by volunteering at UKC
and the ongoing support from staff and fellow volunteers. I got training,
rebuilt my confidence and have successfully completed an NVQ Level 4 in Advice/Guidance.
I now help others get back on their feet and have a normal life.”
Mercy is one of around 50 UKC volunteers without whom the charity could not
function. Founded in 1993 by six courageous volunteers, UKC has built a strong
tradition of recruiting and training volunteers, building their confidence
and supporting many back into paid work. With such a large team, UKC can do
more and be more flexible without huge staffing costs. But we also cater for
our volunteers’ needs by matching skills and providing training and
guidance. Many paid UKC staff started as volunteers.
UKC is the only HIV organisation in the UK to hold both the Investor in People
Standard and Matrix accreditation. For these we have to prove we value our
volunteers, giving them the same rights and responsibilities as paid staff.
We assess training needs in regular supervisions and appraisals. In the past
12 months, 11 volunteers achieved NVQ Level 3 or above. Our work with volunteers
was recently highly commended by assessors for Matrix, who praised our way
of identifying skills, knowledge and experience, and enabling volunteers to
make a meaningful contribution.
That’s what UKC gets; but what do volunteers think?
Andres:
Many reasons led me to UKC. I didn’t have the right support in my country
and I had to overcome depression and stop thinking I was no longer useful.
It wasn’t until I moved to the UK that I realised I could have a brand
new start away from my past. Now nothing will stop me from developing my full
potential. This is why I volunteered; to get the most out of my abilities.
Tish:
Last August I chose between a rock and a hard surface and resigned from my
job in hospitality. Through volunteering at UKC my personality has taken on
a different dimension and my outlook on life has changed dramatically. I expected
to be answering phones to people in distress but I was so wrong. Volunteering
at UKC for the Employment Trade Union Diversity & Development team has
been a defining moment of my career.
David Wyatt
In 2004 I left my job and was about to start combination therapy. I didn’t
know many other positive people and wanted to know their experiences of meds.
I went to UKC’s Midweek Group for positive gay men and received reassurance
and support. I soon became a UKC volunteer, helping arrange Midweek speakers
and events. I now volunteer in the office preparing Lottery funding bids for
HIV projects in Africa. It’s interesting, rewarding and I recently decided
to apply for a full-time office job again.
Steve
Spavin
I took further education courses to increase my skills after leaving my job
through redundancy and illness. I was out of work for some time and my self-confidence
was depleted with the uncertainty of ever finding work. After visiting UKC,
I enrolled on a work-based IT course and was placed as a volunteer. I developed
a mentoring training programme for another HIV organisation and created a
new version of the staff and volunteer induction training programme. I have
regained my confidence and am now back on track.
To find out more about volunteering at UKC, contact Paul Ferrier, UKC Volunteer
Manager on 020 7564 2180 or email pferrier@ukcoalition.org
