As part of our Volunteers’ Week 2022 celebrations, and keeping in line with the theme Year of Stories, we’re featuring a series of positive stories from our wonderful Falkirk volunteers – and this time, we have our very own Eve Winters, Development Officer for Volunteering at CVS Falkirk and Volunteer Falkirk!
“My volunteering journey began in high school, where I became a Buddy in S6 to younger pupils and a prefect as well. It almost seems silly now but I didn’t know this counted as volunteering!
After graduating high school in 2013, I didn’t go to college or university. My grades were okay, but not great, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Through a friend of my mum’s, I began volunteering at Salvation Army New Future Employability & Training Centre, and they encouraged me to begin a Modern Apprenticeship in Business Administration so that I could serve my placement with them. I completed this MA and achieved my Level 2, however my placement at New Future ended and I struggled to get another job. I felt a bit lost all over again and my mental health suffered as a result.
That was when my aunt reintroduced me to the world of volunteering. She was volunteering with a cycling events company run by her good friends, and in the summer of 2016, I did admin for them behind the scenes before taking part in their biggest event of the year as an on-site marshal. Despite not being an avid cyclist myself, and never having went mountain biking in my life, I found it incredibly good fun.
I volunteered with them several more times over the years, as well as another events company I met along the way. Volunteering was fulfilling in a way I hadn’t expected it to be – I met so many interesting people from all over the country and it gave me back some of my confidence. The sense of community among all of the volunteers was very uplifting.
It was this unexpected path that brought me to my current job role here at CVS Falkirk! I didn’t even know I could earn Saltire Awards for my volunteering until I began working here so I feel passionate about expressing how joyful and rewarding volunteering can be at any age… but it is especially beneficial to get into it when you are still young.
I genuinely love volunteering, and intend to do much more of it in the future, when I’m not helping all of you to do the same!”
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering in Falkirk or registering for the Saltire Awards, contact Eve by email: eve.winters@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
