My name is Charley and I’m the Career Coordinator for the KBS Careers Team. Previously I’ve worked on several projects (both NGOs and government funded programme) supporting young people through their career journey and helping the unemployed to find work opportunities.
I’m very passionate about social inclusion and education inequality - I come from a working-class background and through my own lived experiences, I became aware of the barriers and obstacles young people face. Which was something that I wanted to change.
For me, volunteering was a way for me to do that. Working on the ground I could see the difference I was making and the impact of my input. On a personal level, I loved giving my time to a cause that was important to me and it also enabled me to develop key skills; that in many ways has placed me in a good position for the role I am in at the King’s Business School, today.
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I was pleasantly surprised to hear that King’s College London offered staff three days of paid leave to volunteer. Because of this, I took the opportunity to volunteer for Crisis at Christmas, an annual campaign run by the national charity for homeless people – supporting people with warm meals, shelter, support and companionship at Christmas.
I was lucky to be able to use all my Service Time to volunteer with the charity. Given my experience, I was initially tasked as the shift co-ordinator ensuring that the days ran smoothly, and everyone was where they should be. I also got the opportunity to welcome guests to the hotel and be on hand to support hairdressers who were giving the guests a fresh trim!
What did I take away from this experience? The love that was created in the space, by everyone involved! It was heart-warming to be around so many incredible people, coming together for a shared cause and eye-opening to understand the challenges that those experiencing homelessness, face. I’ll always remember one guest thanking me after we had spent some time together, saying “Most people just ignore homeless people, but you’ve sat here and let me feel like a normal human being again”.
Using my Service Time to support the Crisis at Christmas campaign, brought to light how important human connection is. Taking time out of your day to connect and be part of something positive, is something we can all benefit from. If you haven’t done so already (and have the time and ability to) – I would really encourage you to volunteer! It’s good for your soul, your social awareness and is a great way to make a tangible difference in your life and that of others.
I’ve also signed up to be a friendly neighbour to an old person in care with South London Cares (through the King’s Volunteering platform). This opportunity suits my work and life schedule – and resonates with me on a personal level. I hope you can find something that does exactly that, for you!
Find out more about volunteering with Crisis at Christmas.
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