Olivia on volunteering with The Matthew Project
“I have gained valuable experience that looks great on my CV and I can do it in my spare time.”
My name is Olivia, and I am a Social Media and Content Volunteer at The Matthew Project. I began this role in June 2023 and have now been volunteering for almost 4 months. As part of my role, I receive images and news about The Matthew Project, as well as details of upcoming events, which I use to schedule posts on their social media platforms.
As a full-time student with a young child, finding work experience that fits into my schedule is challenging. By volunteering I have gained valuable experience that looks great on my CV and I can do it in my spare time. Although I can create content from home, the team at The Matthew Project always invite me to events and training opportunities. They have been incredibly supportive and arrange regular catchups to check that I am happy in my role, if I have any ideas or if there are other areas I would like to be involved in. Having volunteers means that the team can focus on fundraising and ensuring the charity can continue providing support to those who need it.
Being a social media volunteer feels particularly rewarding because it is an important part of raising funds and spreading awareness. I love hearing people’s stories about how the charity has changed their lives. Seeing the small victories that people make every week, like finding a new hobby, or sharing support for a local business online, is what makes volunteering for a charity like this so special. I feel more a part of my community and have met so many interesting and kind people at the centre and events. At a recent fundraiser, the Mannington Hall Charity Day, it was uplifting to see people from across Norfolk come together and do whatever they could to help. Volunteering doesn’t take much time and any support is greatly appreciated. From my experience, I have gained new skills and made friends, and learned that I would like work in the charity sector in the future.
To find out more about volunteering with The Matthew Project, visit https://www.matthewproject.org/volunteering If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, contact the team who are always open to ideas!