experiences

mrconspicuous

I would like to hear from people who have started from the bottom ie volunteering & the path that followed to where they are now. 

wilko

While working full time farming on my weekends off I walked passed a meals on wheels delivery service depot. On several occasions a member of staff tried to interest me in a weekend job as a delivery driver. After talking it through with my employer I started in September lernt several routes well enough to go solo after a few learning weekends for the routes which could and did change daily. After 6 months I was prompted to driver loader and 9 months later I became the weekend supervisor / driver, loader with a pay increased to match. But due to the County Council budget cuts the operation of the delivery service was ended and the two depots one in the North and other in the South had to close. 

mrconspicuous

Thanks for sharing your story Wilko, unfortunate that the funding ended.
are you looking to do anything else? 

wilko

No since the meals on wheels ended I have reduced my volunteering, ,and concentrated on my lay ministry until I was medically retired being diagnosed with MS but still able to use technology for my ministry.

Chloe_Scope

I started volunteering for Scope about 6 years ago, I now work for the Online Community.

mikehughescq

Started as a volunteer on the Manpower Services Commission job scheme back in the mid 80s at an Unemployed Workers Centre. That turned into 2.5 days pw for £66 plus a voluntary role at Citizens Advice. That morphed into various paid temporary roles until I became the youngest bureau deputy manager in Wales having accrued the (then) required 2 years experience. Nowadays I manage within a local authority welfare rights service but volunteer for 2 charities and 3 other groups related to access and disability. 

mrconspicuous

Thanks for your input Chloe & Mike,
It sounds like volunteering is the way to go.
i recently started the starting line program with Denise, hopefully she can help me progress