We are celebrating Volunteers Week, which runs between the 1st and 7th June this year. To mark this special week, we will be publishing a blog post every day from one of our staff members who started out as a volunteer with Advonet.
Today, we tell the story of Nahida Hussain, a Lead Advocate for our Health Complaints Advocacy team. She talks about her journey from being a volunteer to becoming a highly valued member of our staff team.
What got you into volunteering with Advonet?
I had been off work due to ill health for a few years. Once I’d learnt how to manage the pain, I wanted to wean myself back into the community.
How did you feel about volunteering and what did you learn?
I felt it offered me the chance to give something back to the community and make a difference to the people around me. It also created a platform for me to build on existing experience and knowledge.
How did you move from volunteering into a paid role with Advonet?
I increased my voluntary hours quite rapidly, as I found the role gave me a high level of satisfaction. I developed a strong sense of commitment to the community and the organisation so when an internal vacancy was advertised, I applied and was successful in my application.
I have been working for Advonet for four years now.
What would you say to someone who wants to volunteer with Advonet?
Volunteering with Advonet gives you the opportunity to develop new skills and expand on existing ones. It can be your path to a successful new career in the world of Advocacy.
If you want to demonstrate your commitment to the community and you have a willingness to work for the betterment of others, this is the way forward.
