Case Studies
Katy's MV Experience
I have volunteered at Skelton Grange environment centre since July 2005. I first heard about the centre through a job website, which was advertising for volunteers. I contacted Skelton and explained that I was interested in the environment and that I’d love to help out with anything to do with admin or communications. My main reason for joining was to gain experience in the environmental sector, as my university degree which I had just finished, wasn’t related to the environment, and I needed to get some work experience before applying for environmental jobs. The centre seemed perfect because it was delivering environmental education to children, and yet was part of a bigger organisation (BTCV), so I thought that there would be lots of opportunities for me to get involved on the admin and communications side.During my first few visits to Skelton, I was shown around and shadowed on some play scheme and out-reach days, so that I learned about what the centre does. It also gave me the chance to encourage the next generation to become more interested in their environment. I then wrote a news letter for all the current and ex-volunteers of the centre, by asking staff what news-worthy events had happened recently, and interviewing them about these events. My newsletter appeared to go down quite well, and I was then asked if I would like to be Skelton’s new part-time publicity officer. This is now my current role, and I come in once a week and write any information or press releases about Skelton. These can be for our funders, for the people we support such as schools, or for the local community at large in the form of press releases.
I feel that my work benefits many different groups of people within the community, such as schools, parents, teachers, and the general public. By spreading the work of Skelton Grange environment centre, I hope that I am encouraging people to either come and learn for themselves, or to find out more about what Skelton does. Being able to work in a centre which gives children who are often unable to experience the countryside a chance to express themselves and learn simultaneously, is something which I am just so glad I have been able to do. I have also gained valuable knowledge of press release writing, which I had never done before coming to Skelton. This has direct relevance in what I want to do in the future, as I’d love to be a communications officer in an environmental organisation.
The best thing about the millennium volunteer scheme is that you are recognised for what you do. For many years I have worked on a number of MV projects, but never took the certificates. I realised though, that employers want to see hard evidence that you really got involved with the local community, and so gaining my 200 hour certificate was a good chance to show them that. I also very much appreciate my travel expenses being paid, since I am not always able to get lifts with other people, and taxi fares do mount up. To be honest though, I’m just glad that I am able to volunteer at the centre in such an important role.
