Mark: Charity Shop VolunteerMark Swain volunteers every week in the Hove YMCA electrical shop on Blatchington Road. Haeji visited the shop to ask him and the shop manager, Ange Davis some questions.
Interview with Mark
Haeji: What have you been doing today?
Mark: Working in the Hove YMCA shop, selling and cleaning.
Haeji: What do you do outside of Hove YMCA?
Mark: See friends and family and cycling.
Haeji: How did you first get involved with Hove YMCA?
Mark: I saw the Hove YMCA advertisement on a volunteering notice board and so I contacted Hove YMCA myself.
Haeji: What’s the best thing about volunteering?
Mark: It keeps me busy, it gives me something to do.
Haeji: What’s the most fun bit about volunteering?
Mark: Meeting new people…..laughing and chatting and enjoying the work.
Haeji: What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt from volunteering?
Mark: Motivation…..it gives a structure to my day.
Haeji: What are you looking forward to doing next?
Mark: My NVQ level 3 in university.
Haeji: Do you think you’ve gained any skills/learnt new things in any way?
Mark: Maths skills and interaction between people.
Haeji: Do you have any advice/comments for someone who would like to do volunteering?
Mark: Get out and do volunteer work! Do something you can do….it’s good for you.
Haeji: How would you sum up your volunteering experience in 3 words?
Mark: It is interesting.
Interview with Line Manager Ange Davis
Haeji: What & where is the service you provide?
Ange: The sale of reconditioned electrical goods. The profits from the shops all go towards Hove YMCA’s services whilst saving 400 tonnes from landfill every year.
Haeji: How long has the volunteer been working for your service?
Ange: Approximately 2 months
Haeji: What work does the volunteer do?
Ange: When he comes in he does all the dusting. Then he does anything you ask him to really – the tills, paperwork and helping with the customers in anyway he can. He’s very good at that.
Haeji: How has the volunteer contributed to your service?
Ange: He;s very competent in the shop, so it means I can be freed up to do toher work in the back. He’s very pleasant to customers, willing and helpful. He works very hard and basically is a real asset.
Haeji: What do you think the volunteer has gained/learnt from their experience? (Improved confidence, skills, etc)
Ange: Actually he was just saying the other day how he’s so much more confident since he’s been volunteering. He was very quiet when he started but now he’s laughing and joking and much more comfortable. He told me the volunteering has ‘filled the gap’ and he feels he’s doing something worthwhile.
Haeji: How would your service manage without volunteers?
Ange: Well we couldn’t really, or it would be much more difficult. I have done it without volunteers and it’s really hard work. Volunteers are godsend, especially when they’re so pleasant like Mark!
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