How Skilled Volunteering Helped Stephen Rebuild Confidence and Purpose

Skilled Volunteer Stephen Robertson sat down with our Marketing Manager, Sarah, to talk about what inspires him to volunteer, how his project with Link UP London became a key part of his recovery journey, and why he believes skilled volunteering can help people rediscover their strengths and make a real difference.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background.

My name is Stephen Robertson. Just over four years ago I had an accident that resulted in me acquiring a traumatic brain injury. As a result of this I am a newly disabled person. The resulting impact of my brain damage means that I have restricted mobility and some cognitive defects. Post accident, I have been concentrating upon my recovery.It also means that I became unemployed.

My last paid employment was as CEO of a national homelessness charity, The Big Issue Foundation. That charity no longer exists but my role was sole responsibility for fundraising for at team that provided the type of services that you might imagine a homelessness charity provides in terms of accommodation, welfare and participation in society. I reported directly to a Board of voluntary Trustees and I had to ensure that we generated enough funds to provide an expanding service team and the essential fundraising staff. I was involved with the active management of all senior posts. My previous background was within the commercial sector, primarily the retail sector, at senior level.

What motivated you to volunteer with Link UP?

Part of my rehabilitation involved vocational rehabilitation. This programme encourages participants to engage with voluntary work, to help accustom them to the world of work. During my search I contacted my local authority to enquire about opportunities. They recommended that I contact Link UP to discuss this further.

This I did and they responded very quickly to see if I had interest in working on a project for them to strategically review their work and establish a plan going forward.

Can you describe the skilled volunteering project you worked on and what you contributed?

My role was similar to work that I did when I was employed. I was familiar with the concepts and skills required but was uncertain about my cognitive abilities. I knew I looked good on “paper’ but did not know if I was able to undertake the detailed work required. This was a mixture of background reading and analysis, some basic financial work, a review of the market and the governance required to ensure effective management of operations.

What was the most rewarding part of the experience for you?

My recovery journey has meant that I have had to become familiar with my ‘needs’ and how best to articulate them. For me the most heartening experience was how readily Kim and her team accommodated my requests. For example, I struggle to remained focused when reading on screen and requested printed copies of essential documents. I was really happy to be provided with these and it meant that I got off to a good start. I had been out of the work place for some years and my confidence was quite low. I had come to see this as an inevitability of my disability.

Through a structured project plan, devised by Link UP, I was happy to see that I had retained some skills and was able to add value through my regular one-to-ones with Link UP. As I had anticipated, there were no ‘easy wins’ that I could identify. My task was complex and I was in a position where I had to follow my instincts.

This aspect of my skilled volunteering was rewarding and encouraged me to think harder about my challenges. I was also fortunate to join the team for a strategic away day and it as terrific to feel that I had become an acknowledged part of the team. This was something that I had not anticipated and the honour was all mine. I am grateful to Link UP for this privilege.

How did the project impact you personally or professionally?

Part of my recovery journey meant that I felt that I was unable to add value, where previously that had been the focus of my employment. The project and my conclusions were welcomed and have been applied. This has helped me to reconnect with the point that, with some effort and welcomed support, I am able to take on fresh challenges and add value. My overall confidence has grown as a result and I have ownership of my skills as well as my ‘needs’.

What did you learn about yourself, your skills, or your community through this project?

I learnt that despite the challenges we can face in life, skilled volunteering helps us to see our strengths and add value and impact. I also learned that the people that we get to know along the way can really help us to find something that we suspect is missing within us. This gave me the strength and confidence to take on additional challenges and move forward in my life. Making a positive impact on life and circumstances has always motivated me to try harder. I tried hard here and it worked. Result!

Looking back, what do you think your involvement in this project achieved, both for you and for the community?

My involvement showed me that we can all make a positive impact on communities if we apply ourselves and receive help and encouragement along the way. I am grateful to Link UP and the team for being a part of my recovery journey.

Would you recommend skilled volunteering to others? 

I really recommend skilled volunteering. I was probably stuck in a rut of circumstance and could not ‘think my way out of it’. I have learnt that taking action and showing up for ourselves takes strength and courage. If applied, the rewards can be truly worthwhile.