MY ART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE
WHETHER you are struggling to find a job or have no clue what you want to do, volunteering can be one of the best ways to get experience and your foot in the door – whatever your age.
It worked for Regan Hirst, 25, from Doncaster, who began volunteering after university and unexpectedly found her dream job.
What do you do?
I am a service coordinator for the Royal Voluntary Service’s Doncaster Living Well with Dementia service. I work alongside volunteers and colleagues to run fun and social groups that support people who are living with dementia, to help boost their health and wellbeing.
Stimulating memory is so important for people with dementia, which can be done is so many ways.
Activities involving art, music and games can be really helpful.
There is also the database side of my job which isn’t quite as thrilling, but sometimes we all must do something we don’t get excited by.
What do you love about it?
What don’t I love about the job would be an easier question, because there is nothing to dislike about it.
I think working with people and knowing you’re making an impact on their lives, even if it’s just for a few hours of a day, is a feeling that I cannot put into words.
Every day is completely different, it is also exciting to know that I’ll learn something new or meet someone new every single day. The stories that the people we support tell you are amazing – the lives people have lived, places they’ve travelled to.
Not every story is a happy one but it’s a part of their history.
It’s fascinating listening to people who’ve lived through the war, also the things people have done or awards they have won. It’s astonishing.
I’ve learnt so many things and still learn new skills every day.
There are also sad aspects to the job, but it makes it more worthwhile knowing that someone knows that you’re there for them and that you will help them.
How did the job come about?
When I was volunteering with the service, my manager Jan told me about the job opportunity and encouraged me to go for it. I am so thankful to her because I am so happy in this job and without her support and encouragement I probably wouldn’t be in this role. I started eight months ago.
How long did you volunteer for?
I volunteered with the Doncaster groups for two years, and I started off just making tea. Then the more confident I grew, the more I began to lead sessions.
I started off leading with art because that’s something I know.
Why did you volunteer in the first place?
I graduated with a fine art degree and I began volunteering because I wanted to get into art therapy, and to do so you need experience working with people. I started going to a group to help out once a week.
In my mind at the time, I thought “Oh, I’ll do a year of volunteering and start applying for jobs within the art therapy sector” and I had my career path planned out. After one session of being in the group environment I was hooked.
I remember coming home to my mum and saying, “I could imagine myself doing this as a career”.
As soon as I saw the joy it brings to people, I just knew this is where I wanted to be. My only day off while working at a warehouse at the time was going to volunteer and I so looked forward to it.
I didn’t want a relaxing day, I wanted to be with that group.
What can volunteering give you?
It has changed me so much as a person. I wasn’t confident at all when I started and now I lead sessions with groups of around 20 people and feel completely at ease taking charge.
I know things that I didn’t before and I’m still learning. If I had not volunteered, I’d have never seen myself in this role and I’m so glad I opened this door because I cannot picture myself doing anything else.
Even if I had not got a job from this, I would’ve kept volunteering because it makes me so happy.
Being around all these amazing individuals, it lifts your spirits so much, and knowing you’re helping them warms my heart.
I think with volunteering you get out of it just as much as you put in. It really is a two-way street.
TO follow in Regan’s footsteps, visit Royal Voluntary Service: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk