Volunteering Week: Kathy's Story

June 7, 2022

National Volunteers’ Week
1 –7th June is National Volunteers’ Week when organisations across the UK will be celebrating and thanking their volunteers. At the Centre, we benefit hugely from our wonderful team of volunteers, who not only expand the capacity of our team to reach and help more families and young people, but enrich the Centre with their support and enthusiasm for helping local people escape the risk of homelessness.

Current immigration volunteer Kathy spoke to us about her volunteering:

What is your volunteering role?

I joined the Centre seven years ago when, after retiring, I joined the Advice and Assessment Hub, where different volunteers managed the front desk each day of the week.  After Covid, I felt the need to learn something new and have a different challenge and I have been fortunate to have been taken on by the Immigration Team.  I am being trained in writing applications for legal aid for clients who do not qualify for funding and do not have the financial resources to employ a solicitor.

What difference do you feel you make?

I feel the immigration team do such worthwhile and necessary work in taking on such cases that it is good to be involved in a very small way.  

 

What do you get out of volunteering?

I feel the need to be of help, no matter how small, and to be part of a group of organisation that was committed to making a difference to people’s lives.

 

What do you like about volunteering at the Cardinal Hume Centre?

I loved my Thursdays in the Hub where I felt part of a wonderful team, felt I contributed in a small way to the Centre having such an important impact on people’s lives and I also made such good friends.

When thinking of volunteering it is easy to underestimate the skills we have.  What a waste to let these diminish when they can be used by others to have a significant impact on the lives of those who need our help.

Thank you from all of us at the Centre!

If you’re inspired by Kathy, you can find out more about volunteering at the Centre here

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