Volunteering
What is volunteering..?
Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of the community. It is undertaken freely and by choice and without personal financial gain. At DIWC this includes a range of activities such as organising fundraising, helping with planning, setting up and clearing away events, providing classroom assistance, helping with admin work, providing one to one language support for some of the learners, and so on.
To some people it is an act of kindness. To others it is a means of achieving a personal goal, putting something back into society or a way to contribute to a cause. It is also a way of gaining new skills and improving job prospects.
For many organisations, in the charitable, voluntary sector, like the DIWC the money to run classes and activities are sourced from other trusts and funding bodies. This means that there are limited funds for the centre's activities and staff. We rely on volunteer contribution to help the DIWC achieve new projects and create new opportunities for members and in return the volunteers will hopefully fulfill their potential and gain valuable experience.
Volunteer Case Study
"I believe life is a major journey, but within a lifetime we also embark on many other journeys, both literal and metaphorical. I am English and I have lived in a small village in the Scottish Highlands for over twenty years. A few years ago I made a decision to change direction and come to live in Dundee in order to study Philosophy at the University of Dundee.
After finishing my studies I went through a period of unemployment, this provided me with an opportunity to explore alternative life/career options. In the past I had worked in the voluntary sector and found it very interesting and rewarding.
I was aware I wanted to combine the gaining of particular skills and experience with my desire to be in an environment of difference and diversity, interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds. Furthermore, being involved with individuals and organisations concerned with promoting the empowerment of all women had always appealed to me. Dundee International Women's Centre provided the obvious choice for me.
My belief is volunteering works both ways. The organisation and the volunteer have something of value to give/exchange. This was certainly my experience at DIWC. The warm, friendly atmosphere and respectful attitude towards all at DIWC were important factors that contributed to a pleasant and enjoyable working environment and helped me regain my confidence. I enjoyed my brief, but ultimately inspiring sojourn at DIWC, and found the dedication and commitment to the Centre and all it stands for by staff and volunteers alike, truly remarkable."
Deborah Lewis
Volunteering opportunities at DIWC...
As we are a women's centre which aims to create a safe all women environment, there are limited possibilities for male volunteers. However we are pleased to discuss volunteering with both women and men. Please feel free to call Dana Akel if you are interested in further information.
At the moment we are looking for volunteers to help with...
PR materials - Such as AGM report artwork, posters, leaflets and corporate ID
Operations Assistant - Helping organise the Centre's resources and assisting with classroom needs (such as setting up and clearing away) and events
If you are interested in volunteering email Dana, our Volunteer Co-ordinator at dana@diwc.co.uk.