You have worked with us for over 3 years now, and you are an invaluable member of our team.  You joined originally as a volunteer and then became a valued member of our permanent staff.  What drew you to Hammersley Homes in the first place?   Why were you interested in volunteering with us?
I first became aware of Hammersley Homes in 2022 when I was at crossroads in my life and looking for a change. I was in a fortunate position where I had some free time after a long spell working and decided to volunteer at several charities. Hammersley Homes in particular was an obvious choice for me due to a history of mental illness in my family so I felt an immediate affinity for the work being done here.
 
You now work as our Assistant Outreach Manager – can you describe the sort of work you do – a Day in the Life?
I work remotely from home in an administrative capacity for the charity, I’m very grateful for the role this position affords me as I live with my father and have caring duties for him. My work can be quite broad at times however a number of key tasks I perform are supporting staff and volunteers, liaising with external agencies, setting up referrals, investigating safeguarding concerns, collating data, managing rotas and submitting DBS checks to name a few but what is really great is being able to support a few of our Outreach Members with telephone calls as well. This helps to give me an insight into the people we support, the struggles they face and the obstacles they overcome. It also enables me to appreciate the incredible support our Outreach staff and volunteers give on a daily and weekly basis. 
 
What are the good things about your work, and what do you not like so much?
Speaking with Outreach Members, particularly if I’ve gone through a survey with them and hear how fondly they speak of their Outreach worker and the difference they’ve made to their lives.
In general, it’s such a positive experience working as a part of the Outreach Service to the point where I try to ensure I practice the ethos it promotes myself; actively doing things and taking the plunge to go outside of my comfort zone a little, I find that we are often more capable than we realise and we just need a little support and encouragement from someone (including ourselves!) to instil that first step. Also, it’s always great to see everyone at our Team Meetings whether in person or online! 
I wouldn’t say there is anything I dislike; instances of safeguarding can be intense and lead to uncertainty however they can also be some of the most meaningful parts of the role when we’ve helped someone who is at their most vulnerable. 
 
Part of your work involves recruiting and training volunteers to work with our Outreach Team – what would you say are the most important qualities for a volunteer Outreach Support Worker?
It can really depend, as everyone has different skills and conversely different needs but there are some foundational qualities which really help to foster and build trust in a supporting relationship.
I think empathy is one of the starting points for a person’s volunteer journey, particularly in regards to the care sector, the desire to reduce the suffering of others is an incredibly virtuous motivation with all other qualities building from this.
The next I’d say is reliability, it can take time to build support relationships but consistent effort emphasises a commitment to the person you’re supporting, helping to forge a connection and bridge trust. 
The third is passion, it doesn’t need to be expressed in an over-the-top way but rather to show that you value the time spent supporting them, hopefully leading to a framework that fosters encouragement and affirms positive steps to mental wellbeing.