I volunteered with the Environments for All programme in Glasgow and I can honestly say it changed the direction of my career and in many ways my life.
I had no idea on how to become more active in the outdoors or even where to start albeit I had an interest and a desire to become involved. Through a BTCV outreach programme, I met with the Environments for All team and delivered a couple of recycled art workshops at my workplace. This gave me access to some training courses and in turn, I was able to apply for a full-time role within the wider team at BTCV.
I was given the eMerge project which was a Community Fund financed initiative that looked to engage an urban audience with their own local environment using multi media as a tool. I loved this project as I was given the space to bring my creative flair and ability to enthuse about my work to lots of different people including those from refugee and asylum seeker communities – both of which were very topical issues for Glasgow at that time.
I have made friends for life from that time in my life and I often reflect on the opportunity that I was given. My experience with BTCV has framed my career and my own values and I have a very special place in my heart for the charity.