Chris Verrall
I became a volunteer in October 2004 for several reasons not least due to the fact that I was unemployed (despite a short break - where work intervened) and still am. I had previously volunteered for Oxfam but fancied a change and saw a notice outside the CDT building so on the spur of the moment called in and have since been involved in the Information Centre and the Farmer's Market.
Moseley Farmers Market
Although I would obviously prefer to be employed (and I'm seriously looking) there are definite benefits for getting actively involved in something. Firstly, as I live alone, there is human contact. After all, I can only watch "Murder She Wrote" so many times and to be fair, although I have a very active social life, it has introduced me to new people who I now regard as friends.
Then of course albeit only for a few hours, it gives a purpose to the day and that in itself has with it a certain 'feel good' factor which then helps boost the self confidence levels which (if you've been unemployed you will know) can sometimes behave like a bit of a yo-yo! At least there's a sense of achievement, however modest!
Volunteering, as I do in the Information Centre, I never know who I'm going to meet. Hopefully I'll be able to help them and there is always the possibility that someone might be able to help me. Taking the Employment angle further, I'm sure that prospective employers look more favourably on people who are actually doing something.
Finally the most important thing of all is quite simply that I ENJOY IT!