It’s Volunteers’ Week and Telent is celebrating some of the selfless colleagues who give their time to good causes. Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. Over the week, Telent is shining a spotlight on some of the fantastic volunteers around the business to recognise their contribution and say thank you.
Today’s spotlight is on Cerys Heath – Talent Acquisition Recruiter, HR.
Where do you volunteer and what does the role entail?
Initially I was volunteering as a Vaccination Steward during the lockdown to support the rollout of the vaccination programme. Now I just volunteer as and when I’m needed. Each volunteer has access to an app which shows the requirements in your local area. Depending on if they have a requirement, I’m available and if the location isn’t too far away, I’ll go in to provide support. I’ve worked in Leamington, Coventry, and Bedworth at different locations so far.
As a Vaccination Steward the role varies, but generally I’ll meet and greet people, clean the chairs and equipment, manage the queues, check peoples’ information and enter all the details into the system, prepare the Covid cards and guide people through to the vaccinators. Depending on the type of vaccine being used at that centre you may have to allow people to wait for longer to ensure no adverse reactions before they leave.
What first prompted you to take on a volunteering role?
I started volunteering during lockdown, initially to help with the vaccination programme. I was bored as my life was curtailed due to the lockdowns so after a bit of research, I decided this was a great way to get out and meet people while helping a worthy cause.
What made you choose this particular cause?
I heard about the need for volunteers and felt (albeit a little selfishly) that the sooner the UK population was vaccinated the sooner my life would return to normal, and I could start travelling again!
What do you enjoy most about your volunteering role?
Meeting different people from all walks of life. One centre I worked at had a bouncer on the door but usually people were very grateful to the volunteers - some even came with treats as a thank you!
What advice would you give to a colleague who is thinking about volunteering?
For me personally, I just felt it helped with my mental health. Giving something back to my community during a tough part of lockdown gave me the opportunity to get out of the house and meet people.