The final profile of oiur 25 Faces of Volunteering series is our very own CVS Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council volunteers.

Tell us about your organisation

CVS Inverclyde supports third sector organisations throughout Inverclyde to encourage and empower our local community organisations. We also engage in partnerships and funding work to support and enable local services.

How do you include volunteers in your organisation?

CVS Inverclyde didn't include volunteers in our organisation until the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with Inverclyde Council, we provided both the shielding and prescription collection service and were extremely fortunate to recruit committed and dedicated volunteers. The initial service evolved into the Self Isolation and Support Service and we also provide Meet & Greet volunteers for vaccine centres throughout Inverclyde.

Please tell about your volunteer opportunity

CVS Inverclyde have a variety of volunteering opportunities. Right now we are looking for volunteers who can help over the weekend and in the evening at our community vaccine centres but we are always open to any volunteers that are interested in helping. 

What would you like to say to your volunteers?

On behalf of both CVS Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council, our volunteers have proved to be an invaluable service throughout the pandemic, and we are very grateful for the wonderful support they have given us. Thank you to each and every single volunteer.

Find out more about how to volunteer in Inverclyde and register as a volunteer on the Volunteer Inverclyde website! 

Robert shares with us how his volunteering role has changed during the pandemic, but the support and guidance from Inverclyde Carers Centre has helped him to continue volunteering through this difficult time.

Tell us about your volunteering

I volunteer at the Inverclyde Carers Centre. Before the pandemic I met with a carer face to face but that changed to befriending carers over the telephone.

Over the years I met lots of other carers in face to face conversations and enjoyed my time with them; some great people in difficult situations, we could talk for any time up to 1 hour no problem.

Then the pandemic came along and the carers centre asked me if I would volunteer to make phone calls to other carers to check how they were getting on in these trying times. I must admit to feeling a bit apprehensive as my idea of a phone conversation was about 3 to 5 minutes to get the information I wanted, but I must thank the carers I spoke to as we could be talking anywhere from 15 mins up to 1 hour 

Why do you volunteer?

I received some support and wanted to help support others.

What do you gain from volunteering?

During these calls I learned how hard it was for some families and how they coped with the isolation forced on them by the various lockdowns; people with parents and grandparents in care homes when you couldn't visit them, then those with kids coping with home schooling but in most cases we could have a bit of a laugh by the end of the call.

Now speaking to those who want a call back now things have eased, you can tell the relief when they speak about being able to actually see and speak to elderly relatives and those with kids trying to get back into a school routine.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

Give it a go and support others in your community.

Find out more about Inverclyde Carers Centre - visit their website.

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Tracy shares with us her volunteering role and how she enjoys being a befriender with Inverclyde Carers Centre. Volunteering for Tracy has helped her during lockdown and she enjoys chatting to the carers as much as they do to her.

Tell us about your volunteering

I am a telephone befriender for the Inverclyde Carers Centre. I call two ladies every week on the same day at the same time as arranged with them. We talk about loneliness, the pandemic, family, religion, politics; in fact anything that they want to discuss and don’t feel they want to burden any family member with. We laugh a lot together and from the feedback received by the carers centre, they find my calls very uplifting and beneficial, as do I.

Why do you volunteer?

Having just moved to Scotland from England in January 2020, and my chosen profession was not open for new recruits, I was wanting to work, and so volunteering in the community was the obvious choice to me. I went into the carer centre in Cathcart Street, and was welcomed by Donna, and after an informal chat, an interview followed. Having been accepted as a volunteer, a course that covered all aspects of befriending was undertaken online, as the pandemic had stopped all face-to-face meetings. After that, I was given two ladies to call, and I haven’t looked back.

What do you gain from volunteering?

Being locked away like everyone over the past year, my weekly chats with my ladies I really looked forward to, just as much as they did. It is just a couple of hours a week, nothing in the great scheme of things, and gives me so much pleasure knowing that I am helping people through tough times. If during our talks it becomes apparent that they require more than just telephone assistance, I can quickly pass this information back to the carer centre and my manager, who can then get other agencies involved to assist my ladies further

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

I would say give it a TRY, as it is so rewarding and you get great satisfaction, knowing that you are helping and making a difference to someone’s life.

Find out more about Inverclyde Carers Centre - visit their website.

Martin is a new a volunteer who has embraced his volunteering role with inverclyde Carers Centre . He finds volunteering an enjoyable experience and is also gaining skills and knowledge that he can add to his CV.

Tell us about your volunteering

I am a telephone befriender for the Inverclyde Carers Centre. My volunteering role is to make weekly calls to a carer. I have a general chat to allow them to have some time to themselves and speak about whatever is important to them at that time.

Why do you volunteer?

I was made redundant at the end of last year and wanted to give something back to the community and do something nice for someone through something as simple as chatting on the phone for an hour or so.

What do you gain from volunteering?

I get to have a lovely chat with a carer every week where we can have a nice blether about whatever is on our minds and our similar interests. It gives me an opportunity to do something of value and productive in the free time I have at the moment. It is something I can put on my CV too.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

Go for it! I have only just started volunteering and I am really enjoying it! It was daunting to begin with but it has now become something that I look forward to doing every week when the time comes. Donna from Inverclyde Carers Centre has been excellent. You get two days of training and you get a chance to interact with others who are learning to become volunteers. We recently had an afternoon tea on Zoom which gave me a chance to get to know some of the other befrienders. I would like to do more volunteering while I am in my current situation as I find it rewarding and enjoyable.

Find out more about Inverclyde Carers Centre - visit their website.