Volunteer Jessie talks about how she got involved with ScotsCare

This time last year, I had just retired from my dream job as an employment specialist and training coordinator in mental health. We worked to extremely high targets, supporting clients into work and helping them gain qualifications and work experience to enhance their chances of employment. I suddenly realised I had worked in the sector for over 50 years. Now what? A world cruise? Nah! Take up knitting? Nah! Travel around Scotland and spend time with my family? Nice, but that only took up a couple of weeks – they were all busy at work!

The days and weeks stretched in front of me like Antarctica! It was scary!! I was becoming depressed just thinking about what I was going to do now. There was only so much daytime telly I could tolerate. My cat was sick of the sight of me eating my way through Tesco’s Finest and being crabbit, my friend was so sick of listening to me whinging and moaning that she almost frog-marched me down to Voluntary Action Islington, where someone suggested I volunteered for ScotsCare.

I knew ScotsCare from when I had referred a few of my clients for extra support and had been impressed with the service they received. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Numpty! I met with Louise the Volunteer Co-ordinator and was booked in for my induction. She was welcoming, patient and reassuring, not to mention blessed with a good sense of humour.

After completing the training, I started off on reception – answering the telephone, greeting visitors, doing admin and handling post. I also met the lovely lady I was going to visit once a week, as her befriender.

I soon gained confidence and realised I could offer more to ScotsCare. I had accumulated hundreds of contacts, who were accustomed to referring clients to me for extra support in my previous jobs. No reason why they couldn’t refer their eligible clients to ScotsCare – all I had to do was ask them!

With support and encouragement from Louise, Fiona and Isabel, I have been acting as an Outreach Volunteer, persuading managers of Local Authority Departments, Job Centres, charities, food banks and FE Colleges to let me talk to their staff about what ScotsCare has to offer and to encourage them to support their eligible clients to get in touch. We now have a desk in Barnsbury Job Centre every Thursday, where we can talk to claimants and help them get in touch. We also regularly attend the Cost-of-Living Events run by another Islington based charity, here we meet potential clients and referral agencies.

I have now been joined by two other volunteers – John and Suzie, as we are starting to spread our wings to cover more boroughs and bang the drum even louder. You are welcome to come and join us – even if it’s to take out flyers and ask staff to display them in their reception areas or on noticeboards, just speak to Louise if you’re interested.

“I strongly recommend volunteering with ScotsCare. The staff team are friendly, supportive and approachable. I have found it has given me a purpose, satisfied my need for a challenge and introduced me to some lovely people. It has provided me with the routine I was missing.” 

 

“If you are considering volunteering, go on, give them a ring, have a go and gie it laldy!”

   — Jessie Gibson, ScotsCare Volunteer