Which organisations do you work for?
" I work for 3 organisations, Pembrokeshire County Council (Pembrokeshire Youth) as a volunteer youth leader, Homestart Preseli as a volunteer family suport worker and Victim Support as a volunteer support worker for victims of crime."

What sort of voluntary work do you do and where?
"I work at Letterston Youth Club on a Wednesday night between 6.30 and 8.30. I am part of a small team of 4 people. We provide activities and outings to local young people from the age of 11 up to 25. Our activities include cooking, team games, art and creativity, team building stratergy games recently... I also work for Homestart. I have a family that I visit regularly offering support and sharing parenting advice when needed. I also help run a weekly family group on a Wednesday afternoon in St Marys Church Hall in Fishguard, where mums can come and socialise... I also work as a volunteer for Dyfed Victim Support and I have had training in helping victims of rape and sexual assault, and child victims. I visit victims usually in their own homes offering support and advice when and where needed."

How did you get started?
" Have been with youth club for about 2 years. I took on the roll as co-youth leader to help out friends who had taken over the youth club. In the early days it was taxing but we have worked as a team to get the best out of our young people.I started Victim Support about 18 months ago. I am currently working on a psychology degree with the Open University and also a counselling certificate with Pembrokeshire College. I decided that Victim Support would be a good way for me to gain experience with people skills and hopefully help others along the way. So I contacted Victim Support for an information pack and was accepted onto their training course. Homestart I have been with about 6 months. I saw an advertisement in the local doctors surgery,asking for volunteers who had parenting experience. As I am a single mum to 3 children aged 9, 11 and 14 and also carer for a young man who lives with me aged 20 who has learning problems. I figured I had lots of parenting skills to offer..."

Are there any special skills you need to be a volunteer?
"It depends on what you are volunteering for. Generally though if your friendly with good people skills and a few hours a week spare there will always be an organisation in need of you. We are all different and all of us have a different set of qualities and skills. So who ever you are, there will always be a volunteering job that suits you and that you will get a lot of enjoyment out of."

How many hours a week/month do you give?
"What hours I work really depends on if I have victims to see and how much support my Homestart mums need. I would say on average about 10 hours a week but sometimes it has been as much as 30 hours a week depending on who needs support and when."

What are the best, and worst things about being a volunteer?
" The best things about being a volunteer is the social networks you build up and the new friends you make. Its nice to know you can make a difference to other people and that in turn they can make a difference to you. Volunteering gives you someting to focus on and gives you a sense of achievement knowing that you really can make a difference even if its just for a couple of hours a week. Also there are so many organisations that need volunteers thats its easy to find something that suits you, so it doesn't feel like a chore but more of a hobby. You can also do as much or as little as you want and mostly you can work hours to suit.The worst things about being a volunteer, speaking for myself only, sometimes it can be hard to say no. So sometimes I have had Homestart and Victim Support work on the same day. It can be mentally tiring but the satisfaction of knowing I am helping people by far outweighs that."

How can others get involved?
"I think its important to decide what kind of work you want to do, and what skills you have to offer. Then a quick call to the organisation of your choice is usually enough to get the ball rolling. There are lots of volunteering organisations that you can find on line and in local papers and on notice boards in surgeries etc. Some organisations offer training and support networks for the volunteers, but volunteering jobs like working in charity shops can be just as rewarding. Its just a case of deciding what you want to do, how much time you have spare..."