Violet Rock is a graduate of the OU and regularly takes part in volunteering activities. Here, she gives an insight into a day in the life of a volunteer.
One evening I stood waiting for a bus for twenty minutes in an arctic cold wind after attending a local community meeting. I had been on five buses and one train that day. I stood with my hood pull over my head trying to keep warm. Before I got the next and last bus home I went to a local shop, got a big mug of
tea and a big sandwich.
I had started my day as a community volunteer discussing the attitudes of the voluntary sector and integrated working between services. I am a School Governor and this brings me into contact with statutory officers concerned with child welfare, so I attend meetings, listening and discussing and then reporting back to my local organisation and schools. I had to leave that meeting early to get to my place of work, which involved being an Invigilator in a local college, five miles away across the city. A half a mile walk, with hair blowing in the wind, desperately hoping I would not be late and I was in the building.
A change of role, and mindset. No time to ponder, must be organised, keep the ideas and news of changes discussed in the meetings until I get home and can get to the computer and the network. Being connected to the education and health service I try to have an interest in all aspects of these topics therefore I am a member of the local LINks, the Local Involvement Network. Helping individuals of all ages with mobility problems in their daily lives is a part of my concern.
Holistic approach
The next meeting concerned the social and health structures for older people. There was great discussion and concern and I left wanting to say more, but I did stress the aspect of an holistic approach connecting all needs. Again I had to leave early to get to the community gathering about education, a Governors Meeting at a local school. This occurs at least once a term and it is essential to attend to help the process of the future potential for the local children. I reported the news related at the Integrated Services meeting, giving any papers I had received to the Chair and Head Teacher. Most of those present were volunteers with the objective of serving their community.
When I eventually got home, I sent an email to other members of the network giving them the information I had acquired at the meetings I had attended. Being a member of the Open University Graduates Society also gives me connections with a national network. I forward useful Third Sector news on community topics to Mohammed in Wolverhampton who is also a Governor and Iffty Khan a Community Voice and a School Governor.
There are many strands to fulfilling the idea of integration, coordination and cohesion regarding encouraging participation in the community needs, being able to coordinate one´s own life is one of them.