Throughout September we are recruiting volunteers for a range of roles. One of our Community Volunteers, Sayana, shares what motivated her to volunteer, and some of the experiences she has had so far!
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On several occasions during my time as a student, and early on in my career, I found myself living in cold, damp, single glazed flat-shares. I was repeatedly shocked and disappointed at the poor quality of private-let housing across Edinburgh, and yet, I considered myself lucky as I had a place to live.
After graduating, I had the opportunity to work supporting people living in the most deprived communities in Scotland, which made me question several aspects of housing. One thought was prevailing in my mind: How could it be that in a developed country in the 21st-century individuals and families can be forced to live in such appalling and insecure conditions where a lack of rights often leads to homelessness.
Considering all of those people in Scotland living in insecure tenancies, I started to think about how land is distributed, and about the relationship between land ownership and the right to a secure home. I became more interested in tenants’ rights when I faced the possibility of losing my home after becoming ill, changing jobs and splitting up with my partner. I felt that having access to a good home, stability, security and being able to make plans for the future were luxuries that many people take for granted. Therefore, I wanted to get involved with a project or a charity that would go beyond and would aim at changing the law, influencing policies, and try to tackle the root causes of homelessness, and then I found Shelter Scotland.
When I came across the Community Volunteer post, I was very excited, I felt that it was flexible and provided an opportunity to campaign and fundraise in different contexts and events. At a personal level, I felt that volunteering for Shelter Scotland connected me with some values that are very important to me. One of my first events was Shelter Scotland’s fashion show and I got a chance to welcome guests and learn about the Shelter Scotland shops and donations. I learned that Christmas is a big time for fundraising so I was keen to join collections at my local supermarket. Street collections go by much quicker than you would think! I have met some lovely volunteers and members of staff during collections and they have always made me feel supported and welcome.
I had the chance to attend Shelter Scotland’s 50th-anniversary event, where I had the chance to hear from some amazing speakers and I learned so much about Shelter Scotland’s history. At the 2019 Volunteer Gathering, I had an opportunity to put a face to the names of some of Shelter Scotland’s staff that I had been in contact with for months. I spent time with volunteers from very different areas and it was great to hear about the strategy of the organisation. My latest street collection was at Waverley Station, it was a first for Shelter Scotland’s volunteers so it was an interesting experience, and we certainly had a lot of fun.
Whenever I think about the impact that I have made since I started volunteering, I find it difficult to recognise my efforts. I always feel that I could do more. However, I think that as a Community Volunteer I am off to a great start. I have raised money and raised awareness about the amazing work of Shelter Scotland but most importantly, I hope that my hours will contribute to changing the reality of housing across Scotland.
Together we can defend the right to a home. For more information about volunteering with us, visit www.shelterscotland.org/volunteer