A Decade of Service: How Volunteering Transforms Lives and Builds Leaders

Volunteering has given me more than I ever imagined.

My journey began a decade ago as a Barnardo’s Stock Controller for my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, but I stayed for the support, guidance and fulfilment I gained as a teenage girl with social anxiety who believed she had no career prospects. Relocating in 2018, I joined Girlguiding as a young helper for a Brownie Unit, sparking a lifelong commitment to service. For the first time, I felt capable, and it showed me how dedicated action can ripple through an entire community. That initial spark has grown into a diverse leadership path in volunteering.

Over the last ten years, I progressed from Unit Helper to Unit Leader, and ultimately to District Commissioner for Paisley East, overseeing regional strategy and empowering women to build confidence, independence and life skills. It has been a privilege to watch so many wonderful young women and girls grow up, and I am never happier than when I am covered in biodegradable glitter or sweat, trying to keep up with them!

As my interest in human behaviour and development grew, I expanded into digital mental health with 7 Cups. Starting as an adult support listener, I earned credentials to work with youth and was trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, 12-Step Addiction peer mentoring, and much more. I then advanced to Academy Mentor in Content Development and Marketing, where I taught international volunteers to produce evidence-based mental health content, and eventually became Team Lead of the Academy Outreach team. It was at this point that I realised I wanted to work with children and young people in my career, which led me to begin my BSc in Psychology.

Seeking to challenge myself further, I wanted to test my skills without the 7 Cups chat safety net of editing text or scrolling back through a chat log. This led me to join Samaritans as a Crisis Support Listener and Childline as a Volunteer Counsellor, alongside advocating for community rights with Citizens Advice. All these roles require active listening, rapid critical thinking and absolute presence, and I've had the privilege of spending over 1000 hours supporting people through some of the worst moments of their lives.

My journey of service to my community has opened doors I never anticipated, earning recognition such as the Saltire Summit Award and Strathclyde’s Outstanding Academic Citizenship Award, while paving the way to paid employment as a Young Person’s Practitioner with Action for Children. But the greatest reward remains the perspective I've gained, the friends I've made, and the tangible difference I can see in my community and in myself.

If you're considering volunteering, give it a go.

It’s not just charity shops; sometimes it's taking a group of girls to an airport, seeing their faces as they step into an air traffic control tower, and inspiring the next generation of pilots!