Sheffield charity worker who went from furlough to new job recommends benefits of volunteering

Karen decided to use her new free time to become a volunteer with St Luke’s Hospice.

It is a decision that has changed her life and given her an entirely new career with a charity she loves.

And that is why she is now encouraging people to sign up to a special online St Luke’s volunteering event.

On March 1, the charity’s volunteer team is hosting the online session to share the opportunities that are available.

Sign-up for the event will close on February 26 and after then the team will email out a link to join the session.

“Although I’d thought about volunteering, I’d never had much time, what with work and family commitments,” said 43-year-old Karen, who lives with her family in Richmond.

“When I was furloughed, though, I started to think much more about my future and the things I wanted to do.

“Being furloughed really made me review what I wanted and what my priorities were and it was when I went back work I knew that I wanted to be doing something that I enjoyed doing.”

Uncle writes moving tribute to nephew

St Luke’s helped when Karen’s uncle was ill so she and her family knew the good work the charity does and how vital public support is to that work carrying on.

Karen volunteered two afternoons a week at the City Road shop and was happy to help out at other times.

The team there suggested she should look at job opportunities with the charity.

“I went home, had a look and saw the St Luke’s Donation Centre supervisor role available and because the closing date was the following day, I sent off my CV and covering letter straight away,” she said.

“That was Thursday and by Monday morning I got a phone call saying they wanted to interview me and by the following Monday I’d been offered the job!

“I can look back now and say volunteering really has changed my life because volunteering helped me into a job that I would never have thought was available and which I now love.

“It’s 100 per cent worth applying to be a volunteer because you get so much out of the experience and you are gaining so many skills without even realising it, either refreshing what skills you have or, like me, learning some new things.”

To sign up for the event, visit stlukeshospice.org.uk and follow the volunteer link.

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