The Joys Of Being A Volunteer
You could be forgiven for thinking the above title was tongue in cheek with a fair bit of scepticism mixed in. However, this is not the case – there are lots of joys involved in volunteering – otherwise there would be no volunteers!
O.K. What are these joys? It depends on you. What do you want to get out of the situation? All I can do is outline some of the positive aspects the position has given me.
1.It has brought me in touch with lots of people. There are the other volunteers; the staff of the Credit Union and most of all, the members.
2. It has been easy to fit in, because there are no demands made on me. I can do as much or as little as I please and be assured that whatever time I give, it will be of assistance.
3. . I am learning! After being with the Union for what I considered a fair period of time, I decided to become more involved with the technical side and I am now being trained to assist by using previously unknown computer skills. Courses can also be made available.
4. Although some may wish to work on the technical side, it is not for everybody. I did not feel confident in this area, and was happy to be a collector for a period of time. The joy here was in not only meeting people as already mentioned, but in also being able to help them with information on loans and savings. The aim of the Union is to provide for those who may not be able to get financial services elsewhere.
5. Confidence levels. What do they have to do with volunteering? Lots, is the answer. As time has gone by, I have had my confidence levels lifted and feel more worthwhile.
6. And finally for this article, as space is at a premium, I am here to enjoy myself. To enjoy the company; to enjoy the feeling of worth the Union has given me; to enjoy the fact that what I am doing is going towards helping others.
What I am really saying is that volunteering is full of joys and the flexibility allows you to enjoy it as you want.Stuart Cairns.........
LASA Credit Union Ltd. is Regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Our trade organisation is Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL).Credit Unions - saving and borrowing to meet your needs, FSA fact sheet