When I thought about applying for a volunteer role at Scottish Refugee Council I was motivated by three things: first and foremost, an interest in refugee issues and a desire to be more involved with supporting refugees in Scotland; secondly, a desire to further my skills and knowledge in arts admin; and finally, a less noble desire to add a little more structure to my week.
Eight months ago I began my role as the Arts and Cultural Development Volunteer at Scottish Refugee Council and I have got way more than I bargained for.
My contributions are encouraged and valued
My contributions to projects are encouraged and valued by the team I work with meaning I have had some fantastic opportunities to put my specific skills into practice and I am provided with excellent mentoring from my team leader whose input is crucial in the work I do at Scottish Refugee Council, and will be carried into my future career. I am constantly learning and stretching my skill set as well as furthering my knowledge of the arts sector in Scotland.
Building my skills and raising awareness about refugee issues
Some of the highlights of my time at Scottish Refugee Council include meeting with leading Scottish arts organisations, assisting the organisation of Refugee Week Scotland (a huge multi-arts festival), teaching a bake-along lesson over the internet to schools across Scotland and performing at Kelvingrove Art Gallery – all of which contributed to raising awareness of refugee issues in Scotland.
Volunteering – a very wise decision
I always look forward to heading into Scottish Refugee Council to see what fresh challenges and opportunities lie ahead. Deciding to volunteer with Scottish Refugee Council was one of the wisest decisions I’ve ever made.
Watch my video about why I volunteer
