From volunteering to employment
The Step Up project aims to support people who have experienced mental ill-health to access volunteering as part of their mental health recovery and personal journey towards employment.
Portuia spoke of her interest and passion for the Arts, whilst also outlining the previous experience she had gained in administrative settings, and her desire to build and share her skills in these fields. After spending time discussing potential options with the Step Up Project Manager and Employment Advisor, Portuia felt ready to apply for her first volunteer role.
Since this time, Portuia has flourished and has gone on to volunteer with The Posh Club, The Stroke Project as an Activities Volunteer, and with Volunteer Centre Hackney as a Brokerage Assistant. Portuia’s achieved her original goals and has continued to build on these experiences and has recently started a paid role as VCH’s Administration and Communications Assistant!
Being the creative talent she is, rather than put together the traditional case study, Portuia has written the below poem, to showcase the positive impact volunteering has had on her life:
My mind having been at sea
Be water darling a voice said to me
You see he lives in the shadows
However his mind is well travelled
He’s seen few fruits yet but there’s a tree
Be water darling
Now I see
Got lucky? now there’s a key
Which, when, what to believe
I found land at VCH
First rainbow in a while to date
Early mornings and productive days
In the shadows beneath the bridge they gather in grace.
The heavens dance. The pigeons ate
I found land in VCH
You see
My mind having been at sea
Be water darling a voice said to me
You see he lives also when she shines
Gentle darling things take time
She’s seen few fruits yet but now in mind
Be water darling
Portuia Douglas © 2019
If you have experienced mental ill health, and are interested in volunteering, get in touch with Chris, Step Up Project Manager and find out how we can support you at stepupadmin@vchackney.org