Being a volunteer at SHSC isn’t something I would have ever thought I would be writing about but here I am.

Approximately three years ago I did a course called understanding bipolar disorder and then later went onto another course called wellbeing for life. After these courses I spoke to my peer worker and recovery worker about them and we all had the same idea about me coming back to volunteer and help others in my position. Fast forward a year in the Trust and I am facilitating courses with the Short Term Educational Programme (STEP) team and now working as a colleague to my amazing peer worker Catherine and recovery worker Steve, as well as the rest of the amazing team I have the pleasure of working with. Without attending these courses I would never have got the courage to do what I am doing now, I would never have got the courage to go to Andy’s man club where I am now a facilitator also.

Working as a volunteer I am actively involved in facilitating courses and governance meetings. I love volunteering because it shows how far I've come on my journey and I can relate to our services users, giving my feedback on what I found helpful and that I know what it’s like to be in their shoes. I just want the best for them and I get a lot of good feedback for that.

I am very lucky in my time as a volunteer to have been nominated for the volunteer of the year award for which I was highly commended, and to have been able to complete my peer support worker qualification. I am currently working with the expert by experience team and the STEP team, using my personal experience to help others. This is something I could have only dreamed about if I hadn’t have volunteered!

I absolutely love being a volunteer and If anybody is thinking of volunteering then please do so, there are so many exciting opportunities within the trust for you and so much progression you can make.