I first volunteered with (B)TCV in Preston during my college summer holidays. On my first day, I nervously waited near the row of telephone boxes in Preston (the designated pick up point) trying to guess if other people were also waiting.
I was relieved to see the branded minibus show up and spent a day pulling up Himalayan Balsam in a local nature reserve. The Himalayan Balsam was bigger than me and it was satisfying to make a visible impact to a green space.
After studying geography at university, I wanted to find a job where I could work outdoors and have a positive impact. For the past 2 years I have been working with TCV as a Youth Project Officer in Manchester, engaging young people with additional needs in outdoor activities. My favourite part of working for TCV is seeing the benefits that doing practical activities outdoors can have on young people’s well being and skills development.
The current project I lead facilitates young people with learning disabilities to grow local heritage vegetable varieties. The young people enjoy the opportunity to use tools and to take responsibility for the allotment plot we are creating.