Part of the Aspire Family
A Volunteers Journey
A Journey of Growth and Development
At Aspire, we believe in the power of volunteering as a transformative experience for both individuals and the community. Many of our beneficiaries and referrals embark on their journey with us by joining our team of volunteers.
Diverse Backgrounds, Shared Goals
Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and are driven by various motivations. Some seek to gain valuable work experience, while others aim to contribute to their community or develop new skills. Whether they stay with us for days, weeks, or years, each volunteer brings a unique set of experiences, insights, and skills to our team.
“They helped me so much in terms of developing my skills, learning more about working in IT, and working on my confidence to go out there and apply for other roles”
Building Careers, Creating Opportunities
For many of our volunteers, their time at Aspire serves as a stepping stone towards securing full-time employment and advancing their careers. We provide opportunities for skill development, personal growth, and professional networking, laying the foundation for future success.
Supporting Our Volunteers
We are committed to providing our volunteers with the necessary skills, support, and resources to thrive during their time with us. From mentorship and training programs to flexible scheduling and meaningful work assignments, we strive to create a supportive and empowering environment for all our volunteers.
Gathering Feedback, Driving Improvement
To ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our volunteers and provide a positive experience, we periodically seek feedback from independent sources. By listening to the voices of our volunteers and learning from their experiences, we can identify areas for improvement and enhance the quality of our programs and services.
A Testimonial from a Former Volunteer
“I volunteered at Aspire for six months, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only did I gain valuable skills in computer refurbishment and recycling, but I also felt supported and valued as a member of the team. The opportunity to contribute to a cause I believe in while building my resume was invaluable. I highly recommend volunteering at Aspire to anyone looking to make a positive impact in their community and develop their professional skills.” – Sarah, Former Volunteer
Join Our Volunteer Community
Are you interested in joining our team of dedicated volunteers? Whether you’re looking to gain experience, give back to your community, or explore new career opportunities, we welcome individuals from all backgrounds and skill levels. Contact us today to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and how you can make a difference at Aspire.
Some of our Volunteers Stories…..
Connor is overflowing with compliments for Dave and the team at Aspire in Sheffield, for how they have supported him to make progress with his life and career. After finishing school, Connor attended college in Crystal Peaks, studying Games Development and IT & Business, and hoped to secure a role in one of the many digital businesses in the city once he had finished his studies. Despite applying for lots of roles in IT, Connor wasn’t offered a job, and even after applying for “any old job” he found himself unemployed and getting increasingly frustrated.
By what Connor describes as, “a stroke of luck”, his employment advisor at the Job Centre referred him to Talent Match, who then put him in touch with Aspire. The organisation is a community enterprise in Sheffield that refurbish and recycle IT equipment, creating opportunities for vulnerable and socially excluded people along the way.
Connor started off volunteering with the project 3 days a week, and was soon offered a paid position. He enjoyed putting some of his learning from college into use, and picking up new skills along the way. Connor’s placement started off in the recycling unit where equipment which cannot be refurbished is sorted, and moved on to the tech department where equipment is tested before it is sold through the community shop. Connor enjoyed the relaxed and friendly working atmosphere at Aspire, where he came into contact with lots of different people, some of whom had learning differences, yet all working together as part of one team.
When it was time for Connor to move on to his next challenge, Aspire supported him with getting his CV up to a professional standard, “which it definitely wasn’t before!” he jokingly admitted. Connor soon secured a full time job in a computer warehouse, doing similar work to that which he carried out at Aspire, but on an international level – something he’s excited about as he can see how his education and training, complemented by Aspire, is leading to him having a positive impact and advancing his career.
“I’ve found a passion I never knew I had. I have always been interested in IT but never really knew which direction to go in. If I hadn’t started volunteering at Aspire and stuck with it, I never would have got this job and been doing something that I enjoy. Dave and Steve, the shop manager, saw potential in me that I didn’t know was there. They believed in me and changed my perspective, and I’m really grateful.”
‘My future, I feel has just begun. When you’re disabled and unemployed, life is all about what you can’t do. Now I’ve just started an advanced apprenticeship I can dare to dream. I can start thinking about my goals, long and short term. When I’ve completed the three years, I hope to get a permanent role, then I can get my own home, travel and build a fulfilling life’
Joe is 28 years old, and has recently started an apprenticeship with ITM Power in Sheffield, a company that, ‘manufactures integrated hydrogen energy solutions to enhance the utilisation of renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted.’ Joe’s college time will be spent studying at the AMRC, regarded as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for apprenticeship delivery within Yorkshire. Despite being a little tired from the early starts and everything being new, Joe is really enjoying it, and relishing the opportunities that such a prestigious apprenticeship brings.
The road to get to this point for Joe has been long, and at times frustrating. Joe has autism, and after leaving school he took various courses and part time jobs, being supported by several agencies over time, but eventually the support would finish and “simply evaporate”. After being on the Work programme for two years, Joe was getting increasingly disheartened by promises that agencies made continually being broken, and feeling like he was being sent on courses as a “box ticking exercise”.
Then Joe met with Lisa from Woodthorpe Development Trust, who mentioned Aspire to him. Joe had heard about Aspire as one of his friends had tried to get a placement there before, so he was interested to find out more. After an interview with Dave, which went really well, Joe started volunteering in Aspire’s recycling unit, before moving on to the shop with Steve.
The relaxed working atmosphere at Aspire was perfect for Joe, as he can struggle to work in an officious environment. Dave’s friendly, tolerant and helpful management style helped Joe to easily settle into the work, and as a qualified electrician’s mate, it played to his strengths and interests in electronics and engineering. Joe explained that in previous roles he always, “had the fear that my disability would get in the way. Working with Dave and the team at Aspire gave me the confidence to develop strategies to deal with busy and stressful times”. Joe enjoyed his time at Aspire so much that he stayed for three years, with a paid placement making up part of his time – it simply became part of his life.
Joe had been receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in relation to his autism, but when the benefits system changed, Joe had to attend a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) interview, and as many people did, he got turned down, meaning his benefits were cut. Joe’s Mum, Trish, who is a huge advocate for Joe, marched down to the Job Centre and demanded that they support him better. Joe was matched with a helpful support worker from Opportunity Sheffield who helped him to focus on what he had learned at Aspire and all the skills he had developed, then applied them to his job search.
Joe explained, “Aspire gave me the confidence to go into a big organisation like ITM and not be put off. I needed the experience and skills that I developed at Aspire to help me apply for the apprenticeship. My support worker helped me put in place strategies for my interview such as prompt cards which made the whole process much less stressful!”
Having watched the journey that Joe has been on, Trish is understandably extremely proud of him. “He has achieved so much, and been so resilient, despite the knock backs along the way. Dave at Aspire played a huge part in supporting Joe. Without his time there, Joe may not have got to this point. He simply accepted Joe for who he is and allowed him to shine.”
“Every once in a while, things turn out better than you had ever expected” – how Patrick sums up his experience of volunteering with Aspire Sheffield and how his time there has impacted his life. Like when your team wins a tough game, or your train is on time, or you win the first prize in a raffle – all unexpected moments of happiness that can have a ripple effect and go on to influence your life in ways you never thought would happen.
Patrick had been working in a call centre for IKEA. It was a job he enjoyed, with friendly colleagues and a happy working environment, but he wanted something more. He had always been interested in IT but had never managed to start a career in that area. That’s where Big Ambitions got involved – one of their support workers referred Patrick to Aspire, and as he says, “from the get go, I knew that was where I was supposed to be”.
Big Ambitions support people with mental health conditions and learning differences to gain and retain meaningful activity and employment. They help people to improve their personal development, skills and health while supporting them to move towards their vocational goals around entering or reentering employment. Whether it’s advice and guidance in mapping out a career plan, personal development training or ongoing support to maintain success, Big Ambitions help ensure that individuals and employers benefit from good work and sustainable employment.
After an informal interview at Aspire, Patrick gladly started volunteering at the project for two days per week, initially in the recycling unit before progressing to the shop. Working with Steve and Connor in the shop was where Patrick started to really develop his skills, learning how to troubleshoot IT problems, schedule and track jobs, and work on his customer service skills. Working in a small and supportive team environment gave Patrick the confidence to try new skills without fear of failure, and push himself to achieve more each time.
“My time as Aspire was amazing, really. They helped me so much in terms of developing my skills, learning more about working in IT, and working on my confidence to go out there and apply for other roles. I couldn’t have asked for more! Who started as colleagues became friends and it felt like a family, like where I belonged. Aspire provided the stepping stone I needed to get to where I am today”, says Patrick.
After about 8 months with Aspire, Patrick secured a full time apprenticeship role as a Junior IT Technician, working with an IT company providing business to business support. He’s hugely enjoying his job and feels invested in by the company, as they are providing regular training and online learning opportunities for Patrick to continue to make progress and work towards his goals both personally and professionally. When he has the opportunity to do so, Patrick refers work back to Aspire from his new role, to try to repay some of the kindness and support he received during his time there.
“Everyone deserves a chance to work towards a career that they’ll enjoy. Everyone needs help along the way, someone or something to give them that extra support, or that stepping stone to
achieve their goals. Aspire provided that for me. It shouldn’t matter if you have autism or another disability – that shouldn’t be a barrier to people building a career and life for themselves. I’m grateful for every opportunity that my time with Aspire has provided and the doors it has opened for me.”
Aspire pride themselves on being inclusive, offering training and support from basic entry level up to level two which prepares people for apprenticeships. Their team of friendly and welcoming staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds, encourage and support everyone while they are with Aspire.
