Aidan, Social Activities Volunteer in Gateshead

I first considered volunteering within CNTW in my first year of studying psychology at university, as I was set on pursuing a career in mental health. Over the summer holidays I applied for a position as a Social Activities volunteer on a ward in Gateshead and have not looked back since. Understandably I was nervous at first, though this quickly faded as I met with the wonderful Voluntary Services team who were so welcoming and obliging to any questions I had. I am also very thankful for how kind the staff on the ward were, and this really created an environment in which I could thrive.

Since beginning my volunteering journey in August 2023, I have taken on a number of additional roles and met so many amazing people. Looking back now, I realise how instrumental these have been in both my personal and professional development. It’s a real gift to be able to work with service users, not only is it rewarding when you can see the impact your having, but you also learn so much from the people you work with as everyone has a story to tell.

Volunteering provides so much, and the variety of roles are almost endless so there is always something new to do, with the team putting many different events on throughout the year so there is also quite the social scene. Furthermore the work you do benefits the lives of others, and for me this is the pinnacle of my experience as a volunteer, so if you are considering applying, I would urge you to go for it.