David began his volunteering journey in later life. He was looking for a meaningful way to use his time and to give him a focus outside of the home. He was referred to VAO's Supported Volunteering service and the search began to find both a volunteer Mentor to support him and a placement that he would find rewarding.
David was particularly interested in woodwork and being outdoors and was keen to find a role that would help him to feel active and useful. Within a few months he was matched to his volunteer Mentor, George, and together they began a placement at the Yard Nursery at Tankerness House Gardens. Since then, they have been busy assisting in the upkeep of the gardens - weeding, planning, planting, pruning and propagating plants.
Reflecting on his first steps into volunteering David said:
Before I started, I was really quite nervous and anxious, but I’ve definitely been feeling happier since I started volunteering because it gives me a purpose to get up in the morning and to meet new folks. What I most enjoy is the wee bit of socialising.
With George’s support, David has grown steadily in confidence. George has tailored his support to meet David’s needs, providing encouragement and reassurance throughout the placement. David said:
I would say I feel more confident now and having George my mentor with me has been great. We get along very well in fact, and I can really connect and relate with him.
For David, it was important that his volunteering role felt worthwhile and made a visible difference, both to the community and to himself. Through his placement, he has gained practical experience, developed new skills, and discovered a renewed sense of purpose. He siad:
I enjoy the job satisfaction that I get from it and I’m learning things too – how to follow instructions and stay focused on what I’m doing right until I’ve finished the task.
David has been volunteering at the Yard for around 3 months now and already feeling like this opportunity might be a gateway to the next. He said:
It feels good to be putting something back into the community, and it’s opened my eyes to what is out there.
Volunteering has helped David to grow in confidence, form social connections, develop new skills, and find real satisfaction in contributing to his community.
