Volunteers share their experiences with one another
EUROPEAN Volunteering Capital and Sligo Volunteer Centre came together last week to hold an inaugural ‘ Volunteer Voices’ event — an opportunity for people to meet and chat about volunteering each month.
To mark International Women’s Day, the theme for the first meet- up at The Gallery Café in the Model on Wednesday, March 8th was ‘ The Gender Debate in Volunteering’.
The talks are part of a series to mark European Volunteering Capital 2017. The Sligo Champion is media partner to EVC 2017.
Heidi Wickham, who volunteers as a responder with Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team ( MRT), shared her experiences of volunteering with the group, and what it’s like to work in a male- dominated area.
Sligo Leitrim MRT has 25 members, four of which are women. But Heidi who has been with the team for 12 years says gender isn’t an issue in the group and volunteering with the MRT is very much open to everyone.
“It’s about being as good as you are with whatever strengths you have,” she said.
Heidi admits that for some, volunteering in a physically demanding role might not be ideal, especially when trying to keep up with those who are stronger.
But with Sligo Leitrim MRT, it’s not the case. Being aware of their own limitations is one of the strongest things about the team and its members, male and female, have a good relationship working with each other’s strengths.
The topic for the next ‘ Volunteer Voices’ event is “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment”. It will be held in the Glasshouse Hotel on April 27th.