Michael Day

I first came into contact with the Slough Volunteer Bureau (as it was originally known) in 1999 when I bumped into Irene Goh the first manager at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, The Grove Slough. I met there every week with a small self–help group called: S.T.E.A.M. The SVB had a small office there before moving to Kingsway URC in ?

Irene suggested that I should join them as a volunteer and work one day a week by inventing eye catching titles for the many volunteering opportunities available; Titles such as ‘Sports Mad Person Needed as a Trainer’ and ‘Shopaholic needed to help an elderly person do their shopping’ come to mind.

I soon became acquainted with V Base and have been using the programme ever since. At present I interview prospective volunteers to help them find suitable volunteering opportunities. I also email opportunities to volunteers (most of the Volunteer Centre’s volunteers details are downloaded from the do-it website). I used to manually enter their details into V Base when I first started at the Centre.

I am registered unemployed and by working as a volunteer I am keeping active and practicing my IT skills. There is also social interaction because I am meeting different people and have gained a more sympathetic attitude. I realise that others have problems and difficulties just like me and are trying to overcome them through doing voluntary work.