CHAP normally has between 10-15 volunteers at any given time. So what is it like to volunteer with CHAP? How do they feel about volunteering? What does it mean to them? We got the views of two CHAP volunteers.

Tracey has been with CHAP for over two years and has recently been made a full-time member of staff. Here are her thoughts on her volunteering period.

"Hi my name is Tracey. I am a mother of three children and had been out of work for many years raising my family. When my youngest child started High School I felt it was time to get myself back into the working environment but my problem was that I had been out of work for so long I was not sure what kind of work I wanted to do and never had any up to date experience. Through the Job Centre I learned about the Volunteer Centre in Ardrossan which I attended and enjoyed meeting people in similar circumstances to myself. I got told about a volunteer opportunity with CHAP in Irvine. I was very nervous when I went to meet the Administrator as I had not been for an interview in years. I was shocked but pleased when I was asked to go back and worked a few hours a couple of days a week. All the staff were very friendly and made me feel welcome which helped me to settle in. I have come so far since starting my voluntary work with CHAP and my confidence has grown ,I now know my way around a computer and I am now confident with Administration work, I do still make mistakes from time to time but the Administrator takes time to go over things with me. Voluntary work was the best thing for me to do and I really look forward to my few hours I do every week. I have learned so much and I am very grateful to everyone at CHAP especially the Administrator Grahame for giving me the opportunity and teaching me all I have learned over the past two years. So why dont you give a few hours of your time and volunteer. You never know you might enjoy it and there is nothing better than some hands on experience."

Marita has been with CHAP since last November. Here are her thoughts.

"I think that in the short time I have been a volunteer at CHAP it has been a positive epxerience for me. I have been able to take my knowledge and skills from my time spent at college studying and put them into practice. My main reason for becoming a volunteer was to gain work experience. I am learning how to be part of a working environment as well as developing my knowledge and skills which in my opinion is invaluable work experience. Volunteering can also be very rewarding to you as an inidividual because to know that you are giving up your spare time to help others makes you feel good about yourself. Meeting new people and socialising are also a good part of being a volunteer. It's not just all about working. I would recommend becoming a volunteer to anyone who wants to gain work experience, to make good use of their spare time, to meet new people or even to challenge themselves and learn new skills. For whatever reason, volunteering is a worthwhile and very valuable thing to do, whether for personal or professional reasons."

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