“Before going to Cyfle Cymru I had done several courses. For example, Creative Writing, Art & Computers. At that time, I wanted to
volunteer in a charity shop. I specifically chose a charity shop due to wishing to follow my values. I had talked and thought about doing this for a year but I had done nothing about it. Since being supported by Cyfle Cymru, I have been volunteering in the Cats Protection League charity shop. On my 1st day, I was dropped in the deep end by being left alone working on the till (I hadn’t worked on a till for over 30 years). The good news is that I coped, and this experience gave me confidence.
“Two of the main benefits of volunteering in the charity shop are that it has given me a badly needed structure to my week and for me, just as important, is the thank you that I receive after every session as this gives me a feeling of doing something worthwhile and a sense of worth.
“My dream goal was to be a fundraiser so I also started to volunteer with Guide Dogs for the Blind. This has included being involved in the Guide Dogs Stall at Ysbyty Gwynedd and the Agricultural show in Anglesey. Doing this, I felt part of something and that I was achieving my goal. I dressed up in a dog costume to raise money and was rewarded by the greetings of the children that I encountered on the walk.
“Through my involvement with Guide Dogs for the blind, I am now interested in training to be a Sighted Guide. Being a Sighted Guide is something that I would not of thought that I would have done previously (or was able to do). Using an ability that I now have, meaning full sight, I now want to help someone without it.
“My increased confidence has enabled me to attend and participate in a Poetry Group once per month. This involves reading out loud to a group of others & then discussing the poems. Past me would not have even attended. Because of my increased confidence and assertiveness, present me not only attends but participates in the discussions. Now, I’m practicing reading out loud because I am interested in helping children after school that have problems with that. This is something that I want to do because I know how it feels not to be able to do it.
“I am now on a new path and a new journey, discovering what’s within myself.
“I attended the Sports Day in Eirias Park and the picture shows how I feel about myself now & my journey forward.
“As I have dyslexia, Scott (my Peer Mentor) & I completed this Good News Story together.”
Interested in volunteering with Cyfle Cymru?
You are eligible to volunteer with us if you towards and into work if you:
- 16 or older
- not in education
- not in training
- not in employment
See here for information for how to get in touch.
Cyfle Cymru is delivered by members of the DACW Consortium.
Cyfle Cymru is part of the Welsh Government’s Out of Work Service, supported by the European Social Fund.
