Feeling confused about what to do with her life, Grace had nothing to lose when she stared volunteering with Family Action FOOD Clubs. After finding a supportive community and starting our Barclays LifeSkills course, she now feels positive about her future.
When I first heard about Family Action, I was fresh out of university, where I studied design. I had a lot of free time, but my physical health really deteriorated in my final year, and at one point, I had lost feeling in my dominant arm.
In hospital I was stressing that I wouldn’t be able to draw again and thinking that I’ve just spent nearly three years studying for nothing. So, after finishing uni, I decided I would have a break – evidently my body and mind needed a rest. But then I felt stationary.
I didn’t know what to do with my life and I felt useless because I knew I needed to upskill to be able to start employment that would fit my health needs best, but I just didn’t know where to start.
Spotting the ideal volunteering role
After settling down to another day of doom scrolling, I saw Family Action’s FOOD Club post on social media, talking about a volunteer training programme… in an industry which I was interested in! I thought “what have I got to lose? Nothing, literally nothing!”, so I sent Sarah (the volunteer lead) a blunt (and heavily waffly) email.
It wasn’t long before I got a reply full of understanding and kindness, along with an offer to come down to one of the local centres in Southend for an interview. I was so relieved! It was a position helping the local community while training in Digital Engagement – which was something I had always struggled with.
The interview was very chill, to be honest. I’ve learnt to love interviews and when you’re passionate about helping charities it’s easy to talk about things. I met with Sarah and Tash from the FOOD Club – and they were so friendly. Everyone I have met since that day has proved that they’re all a really good bunch at FOOD Club!
The staff mentioned a Barclays LifeSkills course that is available to volunteers too, where Family Action help with CVs, cover letters and the correct resources to find employment which, to be honest, I really needed.
An invaluable opportunity with Family Action FOOD Clubs
I’m neurodiverse and I’ve always avoided things like CVs, cover letters and personal statements like the plague. Promoting others and hyping them up is a great activity for me but doing that for myself? absolutely not!
A group of us volunteers meet every Tuesday with Sarah, but we also have excellent contact time during the week to make sure we’re held accountable for the targets we’ve set ourselves. Every volunteer in that room each week couldn’t figure out their positive attributes for themselves, but Sarah took the time to really get to know us.
Through the lessons I’ve learnt that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help with “simple things” like a CV – no matter what your situation is there is always someone who can help. I’m so positive about the next steps of my career thanks to the Barclays LifeSkills lessons, because now I actually have a pretty good foundation with all the bits and bobs needed for that.
I would recommend volunteering at Family Action one hundred percent! I tell anyone and everyone about this invaluable opportunity I stumbled across on social media. Family Action’s FOOD Club is more than just a food charity – it’s a community for volunteers and staff.
Volunteer with Family Action
Our volunteers change lives. Whether they’re meeting people face-to-face, taking calls from parents in need of advice, or working behind the scenes to give vital administrative support to one of our frontline services – every one of our volunteers makes a big impact.
You can help us to strengthen families and communities.
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Millions of families are in crisis. Times are too hard for too many. Just as volunteers are integral to our work, we couldn’t do it without donors like you. A donation from you today will help give practical, emotional and financial support where needed.
