Ian is a web based chat volunteer inside the Phone and On-line Recommendation Service workforce in Shelter Scotland. He began volunteering in 2014 whereas operating his health-related enterprise and has continued since retirement in 2017. He often does two shifts of volunteering per week, for round three hours per session and he likes to separate his volunteer time between the workplace in Glasgow and his dwelling.
Outdoors of volunteering, Ian’s principal ardour is {golfing}. He additionally has household commitments and has six granddaughters in addition to making time to assist his native church and meals financial institution.
In 2013, Ian was beginning to consider his retirement plans and after serving to on a venture in Malawi for 3 weeks, he determined to start out volunteering on his return dwelling.
“It made me realise that I wished to present one thing again.”
At that stage, Ian didn’t know precisely what sort of volunteering he wished to do however he knew that it might be throughout social sectors, and it might contain serving to individuals of all ages.
One night time, two Shelter Scotland fundraising volunteers knocked on Ian’s door and whereas signing as much as donate, he requested if that they had any volunteering alternatives. Quickly afterwards, Ian met with the Shelter Scotland volunteer coordinator, and so they mentioned his profession, information and abilities.
A web based recommendation service was about to be launched by Shelter Scotland and Ian was requested, contemplating his expertise, if he is likely to be focused on volunteering on the venture. The purpose was to signpost individuals to additional info on-line and to take strain off the helpline which was oversubscribed. Ian was concerned within the pilot venture which has since progressed from being a signposting service to providing on-line recommendation.
Ian enjoys the problem and the sensation that he’s serving to individuals uncertain or unaware of their housing rights, in addition to studying in regards to the points individuals face.
“I’ve realized rather a lot about homelessness and housing points…volunteering provides me a whole lot of self-satisfaction and goal…I really feel like I’m contributing one thing.”
Ian has additionally developed his on-line and technical abilities additional, which he enjoys. He has learnt a lot in regards to the work Shelter Scotland does. Earlier than volunteering, he thought Shelter Scotland solely helped individuals with lived expertise of homelessness however now he appreciates that Shelter Scotland provides a lot greater than that.
“Shelter Scotland is a charity doing important work supporting people who find themselves deprived and sadly forgotten or ignored by society and specifically short-term politicians. With out Shelter Scotland there can be an entire sector of society swept beneath the carpet.”
By way of his volunteering function, Ian helps individuals on-line with tenancy points, akin to eviction, disrepair and harassment. He has been impressed by the respect proven by Shelter Scotland workers in direction of each purchasers and volunteers which, he says, contrasts together with his expertise of the enterprise world.
Ian at all times feels valued as a volunteer with Shelter Scotland and he recommends volunteering to others.
“I might encourage anybody to volunteer with Shelter Scotland…it provides a way of price and achievement.”
