Active Volunteering Barnet is a Volunteering Matters project, which empowers adult volunteers with a learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment or long term physical or mental health condition, to engage in volunteering roles tailored to their skills, interests, access requirements, and goals for the future.

The Active Volunteering Barnet team believe that having an impairment, disability or health condition should not prevent anyone from making a meaningful contribution through volunteering and work to empower all to feel confident and able to do this.

Liz White, Project Officer for Active Volunteering Barnet, discussed her position in detail.

How long have you been in your role with Active Volunteering Barnet?

I have been the project officer for Active Volunteering Barnet, hosted by CommUNITY Barnet, since the end of April 2016.

Prior to working on the Active Volunteering Barnet project, what career experience had you had?

Before coming to CommUNITY Barnet, I had a varied career, including roles as a Volunteer Coordinator for medical students in rural Ghana, and as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator in an inner city secondary school. I am really passionate about volunteering, and I’ve been volunteering for over ten years, in a wide range of roles.

What do you do in your role as the Project Officer of Active Volunteering Barnet?

My role involves meeting people who live in Barnet who are interested in volunteering, but who are facing additional barriers to doing so. I sit down with them to find their interests and what volunteering placements they would like to do and then try to source suitable opportunities. I also organise and run training courses and support local organisations to develop best practice in inclusive volunteer management.

What is available for volunteers in this project?

Well, there are two opportunities; supported volunteers and community mentors. Supported Volunteer are individuals who identify as having a disability and would like the support of Active Volunteering Barnet to access a volunteer placement geared to their skills and interests. Community Mentors are volunteers from the local community who provide practical, befriending and mentoring support, supporting volunteers with a disability to access placements and achieve their personal goals.

What do you like about your role?

I really enjoy helping people, and seeing them gain confidence and realise that they are very capable. I love finding great matches between volunteers with great skills and attitudes to offer, to opportunities with organisations who will really benefit from those skills, and make a difference for the local community.

What challenges are there in your role?

I have a lot of projects under my belt and a very demanding schedule so I have to plan my calendar months in advance, and block out time in my diary to ensure tasks that are crucial to supporting volunteers get done.

What would you suggest to anyone interested in working for a project like Active Volunteering Barnet?

You should try to gain in-depth experience supporting people, and become familiar with working with people with different disabilities. You could try mentoring, befriending or activities specifically suited to your interests. These experiences help you to develop strong listening skills and the ability to perceive others’ needs.

If you are keen to learn more about Active Volunteering Barnet, become a volunteer, or offer opportunities to volunteers, please visit Active Volunteering Barnet.

Liz looks forward to hearing from you.

Remember, anyone can volunteer and help make a difference. Choosing to embark on volunteering could be the best and most exciting decision you ever make.