Violet Hasdell has volunteered for Kidney Research UK for over ten years. During her time as an office volunteer, she has clocked up some 3,000 hours in support of the charity, and she’s still going strong.
Violet tells us her story in her own words:
“We had been living in Skegness where I had been helping with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. When we moved to Peterborough I still wanted to volunteer. My mobility issues prevented me from working full time but I wanted to do something to help, and luckily for me I was pointed towards Kidney Research UK.
“I rang them up, had an interview and started the following week. That was in January 2008 and I’m still here.
“I still love being here, although I’m only in two days a week. One minute I’m providing admin support for an event and the next I’m in finance, working through gift aid donations. That’s one of the best things about volunteering; that I get to do lots and can be really involved in many aspects of the charity.
“I do feel like I am being useful and making a difference. If I can help with the processes, the background admin, then I feel I am doing my bit to support people with kidney disease, that I am helping in some way to enable money to be raised for research.
“It’s a charity close to my own heart. My cousin has kidney problems caused by leukaemia. He is on dialysis four times a week – so I’ve seen at first hand the impact that kidney disease can have on someone’s life. And that makes me want to continue to do my bit.
“I love the people here. It’s so friendly and feels so much like a family, especially with those I work most closely with. There is support and care and always someone to ask when I don’t understand or need a new process explained.
“If anyone reading this is thinking about volunteering, then do it! Don’t let anything hold you back. It’s funny, you don’t think you are giving that much, but what you get back is huge. Even if it’s just small thing that I do, the personal satisfaction reward is high.“So, I’ve been here ten years now. I’ve no plans to stop volunteering – roll on the next ten years!”
If you'd like to find out more about volunteering for us, contact our Volunteer Programme Manager on 0300 303 1100.
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