Student Volunteering Week runs from 10 – 16 February and we’re celebrating the many students who volunteer for Home-Start by sharing three of their stories.

Angela, 40, had been volunteering for Home-Start Glasgow North for eight months when her supervisor gave her the inspiration to go back to college and use her passion for supporting families in her career.

“Julie, my volunteer co-ordinator, encouraged to go back to college,” she explains. “Julie inspired me. Two days after having a conversation with her, I signed up for college! The staff team at Home-Start are so empowering - I feel useful, I feel as if I’m part of the team and have something to offer… I feel included.” 

Angela signed up to study Social Services at Glasgow College and fits her volunteering around her study. One benefit Angela has found about volunteering during her studies is the experience you gain can then be applied to theory, “it took me by surprise how useful theory is, you learn something new every day that you then apply to the families you’re working with”.

With family commitments as well as her volunteering, Angela had a lot to organise when enrolling into her course and the support she has had through her college tutors and caseworkers at Home-Start Glasgow North have been invaluable. “Initially, I found the transition to becoming a student hard because of family commitments, getting into a routine, as well as having the time to do it. Concentrating can be hard but it’s meaningful and important to get it right” she explains.

“If you’re looking for a really good range of different experiences and people who have many different challenges, you’ll always come across a scenario that is relevant to your course,” Angela explains. “It makes you identify theory within your placement.”

 The staff team at Home-Start are so empowering - I feel useful, I feel as if I’m part of the team and have something to offer… I feel included.

“Volunteering means I have the pleasure of working with people individually,” she adds. “I can develop a relationship with people that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I get to see first-hand the small changes in people’s lives that some may take for granted or that people may not think about”.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering for Home-Start while studying, you can register your interest, here.

 Share your volunteer story and help us raise awareness of Home-Start.