Jemma Boyle
My name is Jemma, I am 32 years of age and stay in Armadale, West Lothian. I have been a volunteer for around 15 years.
My volunteering journey started in 2003 with the British Heart Foundation. My role was as a retail assistant. This meant I was pricing/tagging items for sale, tidying up around the shop and serving customers. I was with them for about a year and from this I gained confidence in dealing with the public as well as obtaining skills in the retail sector.
My next role was with the Ability Centre where I took on admin duties including answering the telephone and photocopying. From this I gained confidence in talking to members of the public over the phone. I was with them until 2006 when I started college.
I started with the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian in 2007 where my roles have varied over the years, from data input to answering the telephone, photocopying, help with print jobs which included folding and collating and, more recently, administering the Saltire Awards. I also helped out at events including Volunteers Week, the Volunteer of the Year Awards and Third Sector Forums.
I began volunteering as a way to get me out of the house and socialise with other people. I was also struggling to find paid employment. I feel very proud being a volunteer and I have received many awards throughout the years which I am extremely proud of. Volunteering has helped me to keep my mind focused and positive, despite having complex physical disabilities. I have not let my disabilities affect me too much but I struggle with heavy lifting and I tire quite easily.
My volunteering journey started in 2003 with the British Heart Foundation. My role was as a retail assistant. This meant I was pricing/tagging items for sale, tidying up around the shop and serving customers. I was with them for about a year and from this I gained confidence in dealing with the public as well as obtaining skills in the retail sector.
My next role was with the Ability Centre where I took on admin duties including answering the telephone and photocopying. From this I gained confidence in talking to members of the public over the phone. I was with them until 2006 when I started college.
I started with the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian in 2007 where my roles have varied over the years, from data input to answering the telephone, photocopying, help with print jobs which included folding and collating and, more recently, administering the Saltire Awards. I also helped out at events including Volunteers Week, the Volunteer of the Year Awards and Third Sector Forums.
I began volunteering as a way to get me out of the house and socialise with other people. I was also struggling to find paid employment. I feel very proud being a volunteer and I have received many awards throughout the years which I am extremely proud of. Volunteering has helped me to keep my mind focused and positive, despite having complex physical disabilities. I have not let my disabilities affect me too much but I struggle with heavy lifting and I tire quite easily.
Frank mcculloch
I have been working as a volunteer for many years and get a lot of enjoyment from volunteering. I have worked in many organisations that rely on volunteers such as citizens advice, museum, charity shops, befriending and offices.
I volunteered with the Voluntary Sector Gateway in Bathgate between December 2017 & Summer 2019 and really enjoyed myself. I met many new people whilst working here and learned new skills especially working on the database.
Volunteering has benefited me greatly because it gives me something constructive to do and meet new people at the same time.
Comments from James Penman, Volunteer Manager
Frank contacted us directly such was his keenness to volunteer with his local Third Sector Interface having previously volunteered with the equivalent in Inverness.
We didn’t hesitate to take him on board as his experience meant he could ‘hit the ground running’ which is exactly what we were looking for in the administration role.
Frank is a very conscientious, keen and hardworking individual who is a credit to himself and the organisation.
I volunteered with the Voluntary Sector Gateway in Bathgate between December 2017 & Summer 2019 and really enjoyed myself. I met many new people whilst working here and learned new skills especially working on the database.
Volunteering has benefited me greatly because it gives me something constructive to do and meet new people at the same time.
Comments from James Penman, Volunteer Manager
Frank contacted us directly such was his keenness to volunteer with his local Third Sector Interface having previously volunteered with the equivalent in Inverness.
We didn’t hesitate to take him on board as his experience meant he could ‘hit the ground running’ which is exactly what we were looking for in the administration role.
Frank is a very conscientious, keen and hardworking individual who is a credit to himself and the organisation.
Volunteer Experience
Following recent interaction with the Gateway - Here we have the feedback from a recent volunteer detailing her interaction with the Gateway, and the subsequent outcome.
"I approached Linda a few months ago, as at the beginning of the year I had achieved my diploma in Swedish and sports massage. I wanted to start working however was struggling where to start having no work. Linda was warm and welcoming and really listened to me. We both had a long chat about what I wanted to achieve and from there we decided that I should email local gyms as currently there were no services available for me to volunteer offering this type of massage. The emails I sent had much more success than I had anticipated, and I ended up with a work experience position at a gym in Carmondean, along with a lot of extremely helpful advice from other gyms I had emailed.
I am now going out on my own, advertising my service on Facebook and I am extremely excited and hopeful for my future as a self employed masseuse. I am extremely thankful for my time at Voluntary Sector Gateway as it really helped point me in the right direction"
"I approached Linda a few months ago, as at the beginning of the year I had achieved my diploma in Swedish and sports massage. I wanted to start working however was struggling where to start having no work. Linda was warm and welcoming and really listened to me. We both had a long chat about what I wanted to achieve and from there we decided that I should email local gyms as currently there were no services available for me to volunteer offering this type of massage. The emails I sent had much more success than I had anticipated, and I ended up with a work experience position at a gym in Carmondean, along with a lot of extremely helpful advice from other gyms I had emailed.
I am now going out on my own, advertising my service on Facebook and I am extremely excited and hopeful for my future as a self employed masseuse. I am extremely thankful for my time at Voluntary Sector Gateway as it really helped point me in the right direction"