Volunteer Profiles
Lauren
Can you tell me about your role here at Trust House Reading?
I am an office intern, I mainly focus on different areas of marketing, fundraising and attending to the social media of the charity.
Why did you decide to start volunteering for the charity?
I decided I wanted to volunteer for the charity after first visiting the charity with a society at Reading University, on which I was a committee member, to try and increase the links the charity had with the university. After meeting the team and seeing what good work they do here, I knew that if I could, then I would volunteer for Trust House.
What is your favourite part and why would you recommend volunteering at Trust House to others?
I really enjoy working in the office and knowing that I am doing something productive, something that will benefit others. Interacting with people and updating the Facebook and Twitter are also fun! Everyone here is so lovely and I feel like what I do here is really valued and that I am doing something which helps the charity. I have been given roles with responsibility attached and as a volunteer who only works 2 days a week, I am really glad of that.
What have you gained from volunteering here at Trust House?
I feel that I have gained so much from volunteering here. Before I started here, I was in a rut, struggling with a few different problems, but now my confidence has improved dramatically and I am a lot happier than I was. I also feel that I’m using skills that I didn’t know I had before!
Gabby
Can you tell me about your role here at Trust House Reading?
I am a volunteer counsellor and have had the privilege to listen to peoples’ stories since January 2015.
Why did you decide to start volunteering for the charity?
I felt “called” to volunteer for survivors of rape and sexual abuse when I began looking for my placement as I was studying at the same time. I have felt tremendous peace and calm working within quite a difficult traumatic environment. I particularly enjoyed the interaction to begin with by email with Michelle, THR’s coordinator, who was so patient and always available to answer my questions.
What is your favourite part and why would you recommend volunteering at Trust House to others?
The people make THR! I feel blessed and lucky and privileged to be amongst such lovely, warm, accepting colleagues. Seeing as I am still a “learner driver”, I feel so well supported, and training and learning is so readily available.
What have you gained from volunteering here at Trust House?
Confidence especially; insight into the world of trauma psychology, and a general acceptance.
Gemma
Can you tell me about your role here at Trust House?
I work as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) volunteer.
I offer various types of support to people who have been victims of rape or sexual abuse.
Support could be anything from helping them through the criminal justice system and court process to just speaking to them on the phone and offering a listening ear. I can also offer practical advice on things like benefits or various support groups or activities in their area.
Why did you start volunteering for the charity?
I wanted to ease myself back into the work environment after being at home raising my children for the last five years. It’s helped with building my confidence and also opening my eyes to a completely different type of work, that I was interested in getting into.
What is your favourite part and why would you recommend volunteering at Trust House to others?
The training and support given by Trust House Reading is second to none. If there is any training you want to go on they will aim to find a course that suits. The team are all really kind and supportive, so it’s a lovely working environment to be in. They treat their volunteers just like paid staff and are always striving to improve the volunteering experience.
What have you gained from volunteering here at Trust House?
As I’ve not worked in this sector before it has opened my eyes to all the good work the charity does. It’s given me some good experience to go on and find paid work in this sector should I wish to do so. Volunteering has also given me back my confidence and brushed up my previous skills that were a bit rusty after being out of work for a while. Above all it has given me a great deal of satisfaction in knowing I may have made a difference in someone’s life in their time of need.