Michael volunteers at the Bury Hospice warehouse, keeping donations and the shop clean and tidy. He's supported by Persona Employment Pathways, which helps people learn new skills and get a job or voluntary role.
What does Michael's volunteering role involve?
Michael travels to work in Radcliffe to keep the Bury Hospice warehouse clean and tidy so that customers can find what they're looking for, so that as much money as possible goes to supporting Bury Hospice.
Why is this role perfect for him?
Our job coaches got to know Michael, talking to him about his skills and interests and what he wanted to do. Michael's a natural cleaner and tidier who naturally takes pride in dusting, hoovering and organising at home, so he was the perfect person to help Bury Hospice keep their donation centre and warehouse shop shipshape!
How have PEP supported Michael to do his volunteering?
Once he'd been matched with a volunteering role, job coach Zabeena supported Michael to build up his confidence and skills to travel independently to the warehouse, breaking the journey down into manageable steps and checking in with him less often as he got comfortable with each stage. First they practised getting to and from Bury Interchange together, until Michael was confident enough to find his way there and he knew which bus he'd need. Next they got the bus to Radcliffe together, so Michael could learn what time he needed to leave home to catch the bus on time.
Now Michael's being supported in his volunteering role, but he's such a natural that Amita, his job coach, says "organising furniture, books and ornaments hasn't been an issue for him though we're always around to offer a gentle prompt or clarification if needed."
What does Michael most enjoy about volunteering?
He really enjoys meeting new people, travelling, organising the shelves and having a structured routine. Amita, his job coach, says "you can tell it boosts his confidence and makes him feel that he's a valued team member."
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