My heart’s content
Volunteering led to apprenticeship
AFTER deciding that university wasn’t for her, Bella Smith, 22, from Penzance, started helping out at a local British Heart Foundation shop as a volunteer. Three years on and she is on the pay roll, has nearly finished a retail apprenticeship scheme and is looking forward to a career in retail. For the past year I have been doing an apprenticeship as a paid assistant. It is on-the-job training and I do online study modules.
I have an assessor who comes by and sets me projects and essays. My days are really busy as I do everything to support my manager and deputy manager: working the tills, managing volunteers, sorting the stock.
I started out as a volunteer on books and toys, and I still particularly enjoy working in those areas and making attractive displays. I am so relaxed and happy and I love coming to work every day. We have volunteers of all ages, including younger than me, coming in – it is such a great way to get experience and gain confidence. I can recommend it to everyone.
I manage the shop on my own on Sundays so I can imagine one day being able to do that permanently. I left school and went to university to study journalism in Bristol but I was so unhappy. I finished my first year and went home to Penzance.
There was hardly any work around except in hospitality and cleaning. I did both but didn’t enjoy either. I was so bored at home and hated the jobs I was doing. My dad suggested I try volunteering so
I went to a volunteer association locally and they suggested BHF. Jo, the shop manager, was so welcoming when I popped in and I felt encouraged to take that first step.
I started at the shop and they suggested I take over sorting out the books which I absolutely loved – still do. I began doing every other day for a few hours but then found myself doing more and more. It gradually grew until one day I just stayed until closing time. Not at all. I was so shy when I started. I struggled to speak to people. The shop would be silent and I would hear the Bella has found the right place silence knowing that I should say something but I couldn’t.
I don’t have that problem now. I chat to our customers and donors, and my confidence has gone through the roof. It still has a way to go but I’m getting there. I went to visit one of my sisters in London who suggested I should find an apprenticeship so I started to apply.
I found one that involved writing and social media. I even started it for a few days but when my BHF area manager heard I was going to do that she offered me an apprenticeship in the shop and I accepted there and then. I felt such relief – I knew I had found the right place for me. Winning BHF Volunteer of the Year was my highlight so far. And being offered the apprenticeship at a point when BHF had just started offering them.
Other than that, I have to say that knowing how much my confidence has grown is a real highlight. I am a different person and know that I have found the right world for me.
Not everyone is suited to go off to university and I am lucky I found the right path for me right here at home. BHF relies on 20,000 volunteers nationwide, many of whom are eligible to work towards an NVQ in customer service and retail. A quarter of paid vacancies within BHF are filled by former volunteers. Find out more at bhf.org.uk/volunteering.
■ Citizens Advice rely on 23,000 volunteers – citizensadvice.org.uk
■ Volunteering Matters for 18-35s – volunteeringmatters.org.uk
■ vinspired.com
■ Know your rights – gov.uk/ volunteering
■ The Royal Voluntary Service – royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
■ Do it – do-it.org.uk
BELLA SAYS YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER BECAUSE:
■ It will get your foot in the door
■ It looks good on your CV
■ It will boost your confidence
■ It will help you to feel good
about yourself
■ It is a great feeling knowing you are
making a difference to other people
What’s your typical day?
How did you end up at the British Heart Foundation?
Were you a natural?
I started out shy – now my confidence has grown
How did the volunteering turn into a paid job and an apprenticeship?
What are the highlights?
CONTACTS