Volunteering with Sue Ryder is helping our participants improve their spoken English and general confidence
Seetec has partnered with Sue Ryder in Swindon to help our participants access valuable voluntary placements.
The idea came about when Seetec’s regional integration lead, Caroline met with Sue Ryder’s retail volunteer coordinator, Leah at an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision forum.
Caroline took the idea back to the Swindon Seetec team who offered the voluntary placements to participants, and it’s proven popular.
Sue Ryder are a registered charity who provide end of life care, bereavement and grief support in the UK.
To fundraise, Sue Ryder operates a network of charity shops that rely on a team of willing volunteers.
A great option
Seetec supports a very diverse group of participants in Swindon to find a job or get back to work.
Some participants want to improve their English, and volunteering at Sue Ryder is a great option for them.
Work and Health Programme participants; Abrar, Rumana and Rosaria are volunteers at the Swindon Sue Ryder store.
We met with the Sue Ryder team to discuss how voluntary placements are helping them.
Hazel is the manager at the Swindon store, and she’s been working for Sue Ryder for 10 years now.
Our customers and donors love them
Hazel was born in the Philippines and has worked in three different countries herself.
When she arrived in the UK, Hazel overcame her own language barriers by volunteering to improve her spoken English too.
Hazel says; “I’ve worked in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bali and the United Kingdom so I fully understand the challenges these volunteers face.”
She continues; “I can say a hundred positive things about these volunteers, they help me to get the job done and our customers and donors love them.”
Hazel loves how participants on voluntary placements go from saying just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to having full blown conversations with customers and donors.
Improve their communication skills and confidence
Volunteers are encouraged to interact with the customers/donors because it improves their communication skills and confidence.
When we visited, Abrar and Rumana were working in the stock areas and Rosaria was working on the till.
Overall, there are four Seetec participants who currently volunteer at Sue Ryder in Swindon.
I get to interact and socialise
Rumana has spent the last 18 years caring for her children and integrating has been difficult for her.
A smiling Rumana tells us; “I’m improving my English speaking and feel better within myself as I get to interact and socialise.”
Having worked in Pakistan as a university librarian for 14 years, Abrar came to the UK in December 2023.
He says; “I like it here, it’s good to learn to use the tills and engage and interact with others.”
Rosaria has been in the UK for nine years. She has young children and has found it difficult to juggle childcare and improving her English.
Rosaria says; “My dream job is fashion retail, I’ve always loved fashion and wanted to be a model when I was younger.”
Grateful for the opportunity at Sue Ryder, she continues; “I got a good opportunity from Seetec and I am very happy about that.”
With such clear benefits for the participants and the community, we hope that this partnership continues to thrive!
Do you need help with strengthening your social interactions? Can a voluntary placement help you to improve your language skills?
Talk to your job centre plus work coach about the Work and Health Programme.
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