I’ve been volunteering in Emmaus for a few years now.
My husband volunteered in a shop in Porthcawl, and after a couple of years they asked him to become manager. That encouraged me to start volunteering in the shops, working on the tills and sorting out clothes.
A few years back, I was introduced to Nant Lais, the Community Home, and I’ve been working in the community kitchen every week since. I come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays to sort out the food and do all the cooking for the people supported by the charity.
I really enjoy volunteering at Emmaus, and I find it really rewarding. It’s not for everyone, and you have to be open minded, but I personally think it’s great to be able to get involved in the community and use my time and skills to help out those in need. Emmaus South Wales offers a home for its residents, more than just a bed, and it’s a very nice little community to volunteer at.
You have a lot of flexibility as a volunteer and you can give as much time as you like. It can be a few hours, or a day, or all week if you like. And you can choose what to do as a volunteer, because everything and anything is helpful. You can work in the shops, in the house, you can do gardening, or even work on the land train in Porthcawl, which I think is lovely – it’s what I want to do next!
Volunteering has also allowed me to gain a lot of experience in different things. As well as actual work experience which is always valuable, I have taken some very useful courses in areas such as Food Hygiene which I expect will be helpful if I’m ever looking for a job in the future.
I think volunteering at Emmaus is a wonderful opportunity for anyone that is lonely or has something to give in their spare time. There’s so many homeless people around. This charity gives them an opportunity to get back on their feet, and you can contribute to that and get to see them move on and improve their lives.
So if I had to say something to anyone thinking about volunteering at Emmaus, I’d say do it. It’s a great way to invest your time and skills by giving back to the community, you make friends and you truly help people who have experienced homelessness. Give as much as you possibly can, because everything is helpful.
Click here to find out more and apply to volunteer at Emmaus South Wales.