The People Behind Our Volunteers: Their Stories

Volunteering is about so much more than giving your time. It is about building meaningful connections, creating a sense of belonging and helping people feel valued, supported and less alone.

Across our communities, volunteers play an important role in bringing people together, offering companionship and making a lasting difference to the lives of older people. But behind every successful volunteering experience is someone helping to make those connections happen. At Age Cymru Dyfed, the volunteer manager plays a vital role in bringing people together, matching volunteers with opportunities that suit their strengths and interests, and nurturing relationships that can grow into lasting friendships.

In these reflective interviews with two of our volunteer managers, we explore what makes the role so rewarding, the impact of volunteering on both volunteers and the people they support, and why even the smallest acts of kindness can have such a profound effect.

Volunteer Manager Peter filled us in on his role as volunteer manager.

“One of the most rewarding parts of the role is matching a volunteer with someone and seeing a friendship grow. Hearing them say, ‘It feels like we’re best friends, we have so much in common’, is wonderful. Knowing that a match has brought companionship and happiness into both their lives makes the work incredibly worthwhile.

Every day is busy, varied and centred around people. Alongside recruiting volunteers, we manage a volunteer project, which includes interviews, inductions, assessments, matching, wellbeing checks and hearing feedback about visits. Our volunteers support a wide range of services, including face-to-face and telephone befriending, digital support, benefits support, administration, home energy checks and foot clinics. There is always something to do, and each day brings opportunities to make a positive difference.

We hear first-hand how much volunteering means to both our volunteers and the people they support. During wellbeing checks, volunteers tell us how rewarding it is to contribute to their community and feel they are making a difference. Clients also tell us how much the support has changed their lives. A regular visit, a friendly phone call or practical help can provide companionship, build confidence, and help someone feel more connected. 

If you enjoy working with people and helping others, it can be an incredibly rewarding role. You meet people from all walks of life, help volunteers find opportunities that suit their interests and strengths, and see the impact of their support. It is a busy role, but seeing friendships develop and knowing you have helped make a difference in someone’s life brings a real sense of purpose and satisfaction.”

Volunteer Manager Lucie also shared her experiences.

“A typical day involves a lot of activity, including checking in with clients who have been matched to see how things are going, calling newly referred clients to get to know them and see if we can find a suitable match, carrying out volunteer wellbeing checks, conducting volunteer interviews and delivering volunteer inductions.

Alongside all of this, there is administrative work, including recording information, general calls to and from staff, volunteers and clients, email communication, and providing advice or signposting where needed. We also attend events, deliver leaflets, and promote the organisation and the project within the community.

Hearing from both clients and volunteers about the difference befriending makes to their lives is incredible. A regular phone call, simply to have a chat, and knowing they have a friend can make a huge difference to someone who may otherwise have very little social contact. Someone can have family members in their life, but the time spent with family can be very different from sitting down with someone, having a cup of tea, enjoying their company and showing a genuine interest in them.

When making an initial call to a client to get to know them, I often find that the conversation can start off quite flat, and you can hear the loneliness in their voice. However, by the end of the call, their tone has changed, and they sound much more upbeat. You can really hear the difference that a 20-to-30-minute phone call has made to them, and it helps me appreciate how much a face-to-face visit could mean to them.

I would highly recommend the role to anyone. It is such a rewarding position, and being able to play a big part in making a difference to the lives of both clients and volunteers is amazing. I would say that you need to have great communication skills and be able to empathise with people. The role can also really help to build your confidence, as you need to come out of your shell and let your personality shine through.”

Could you be part of that difference?

Whether you have experience supporting volunteers or simply a passion for helping people, there are many ways to make a positive contribution. Read on to discover the difference a volunteer manager can make and consider how you could help create more connections, friendships and brighter days for older people in your community.

Email: reception@agecymrudyfed.org.uk

You can also visit our Volunteering pages to learn more about how you can pursue this avenue or contribute with some of your time, however small.