Volunteering can provide a pathway to a variety of outcomes for people. Individuals who have been referred to our Step Up programme see volunteering as a route to improving their mental health, wellbeing and re-engaging in things they were once passionate about.
Stacey was referred to the programme in the summer of 2024 after a traumatic accident forced her to give up her career as a fitness instructor. The support provided by one of Step Up’s progression coaches helped her at a time when she felt isolated and struggled with addiction.
Stacey’s progression coach suggested that she joined one of Volunteer Centre Hackney’s Together Better groups to take part in coffee mornings and seated yoga activities. These gave Stacey the feeling of being more connected and enabled her to build up a routine in her day-to-day life.
Stacey then took part in some of Step Up’s ‘step-in’ sessions and she particularly enjoyed the session at Hackney Night Shelter. It allowed her to get involved in a variety of tasks – supporting with the cleaning and general tidying of the shelter – after which, Stacey decided to commit to regular volunteering there.
Volunteering has enabled her to develop her confidence and self-esteem. This improvement has allowed Stacey to return to her passion and secure a paid role as a community fitness instructor. She is also starting her peer mentoring training with Turning Point to use her lived experience to become a volunteer mentor and support others.
Reflecting on her journey and what she has achieved, Stacey said:
“Volunteering definitely got me the job, as they could see I was able to commit to something and I had a glowing reference from my volunteer role.”
Stacey’s Progression Coach added:
“Seeing Stacey regain confidence and a sense of purpose has been incredibly rewarding. After everything she had been through, her commitment to volunteering and willingness to step outside her comfort zone was inspiring. Stacey worked hard to rebuild her self-belief, and it’s been a real privilege to support her on the journey back into meaningful, paid work doing something she loves.”
Stacey’s story highlights how finding the right opportunities can support individuals in their time of need, as well as boosting confidence and developing skills to go from needing guidance to supporting others.
Volunteer Centre Hackney’s Step Up programme supports individuals who struggle with their mental health, helping them to find volunteering roles and employment. We especially welcome applications from Black and mixed heritage 18–30-year-olds. Find out more about Step Up by clicking here.