The Exchange: From Volunteer Centre Hackney to Volunteer Centre Edinburgh,

I became involved in the Volunteer Centre Hackney: London in November 2009. Hackney, my home, is a diverse place and I’m proud that my volunteer centre is pro-active in promoting a culture of mutual respect by volunteering throughout the borough.

I volunteered on “Props”, a project that provides supported volunteering and is currently geared towards both a mental health project and an ex-offenders project. A prop actively engages with hard to reach service users that would otherwise be missed by a program that has at its core equal opportunities. This is a project that asks, “What more can be done on the ground to ensure we live up to our mission statement and enhance this boroughs culture of mutual respect?”

The Wave Of Friendship provided me the opportunity to visit the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh, which has a long and successful history in answering these exact questions. By visiting a similar project with a long legacy I was confident I would learn something worthwhile to take back to my centre and my community.

I was lucky to be enthusiastically supported by the Edinburgh centres “health and wellbeing team” who planned a program for my 4-day visit. Each day I met specialists in the field. These were people working to support clients with complex and serious convictions. Each one able to tell me exactly what they thought it takes to create a culture of mutual respect in volunteering to include those that have a history including offences. And each one able to shed light on the part they play in making such a challenging and innovative area.

… And each one scattered around Edinburgh like a treasure hunt of information and intrigue, developing my knowledge as I went. Perfectly planned with gaps and pauses to eat my way around the city (for fuel of course) and take in, what is in my opinion, one of the most spectacular cities in Europe. And shock of all shockers I was blessed with Blue skies and sunshine for 99.5% of my visit!

The visit lived up to everything it could be. I met Support and development workers, volunteering Officers and Managers, Therapists, Health and social care workers and grass roots projects doing different and things with plenty of success…and did I mention the food and the City? Oh yes...

I would like to thank all in the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh Team for facilitating a great visit. The Wave of friendship team for making this easy and enjoyable and Volunteer Centre Hackney for supporting my interest.