Volunteer Stories: Sarah

We invited Sarah, member of the Make Your Mark campaign working group, to share how volunteering supported her career development.

What volunteer roles have you undertaken?

When I was in my late teens, I did a number of short stints of volunteering - in the local archives, with the National Trust regional office in my area, with conservation officers at the local council.

I had a longer weekly volunteering role at a local museum/gallery and in a charity shop. Some of these were through school and some I organised with the help of my parents.

I didn't need any skills in advance and was taught what I needed to know. It was mostly doing some research, becoming familiar with the heritage site, making myself useful wherever possible. I was taught till-work and how to use computer data systems (these were very simple).

What led you to start volunteering?

I wasn't sure what career I wanted to head into and whether university was the right place for me - let alone what topic I would study. I thought trying out lots of different places would help me figure out what I did and didn't like doing. I learnt that archaeology wasn't for me! And that conservation of art/historic collections didn't play to my strengths, but I loved being around old buildings and managing their future as useful spaces for people.

How did volunteering support your professional development?

It gave me a really varied base of experiences to draw on when I started my studies at university and later when I was in my first job. It helped me to have something to talk about in the work-place and compare new activities to. It gave me ideas to share that could be implemented in other places I was working.

What is your current job in the heritage sector?

I am the Development Officer for Scotland at the Heritage Trust Network. I co-ordinate and deliver all of our activity in Scotland - supported by our Heritage Trainee and Scotland Committee. We support community groups and professional heritage trusts who are finding a future for historic buildings in their local area.

What attracted you to the heritage sector?

I have always been drawn to historic places and often the green spaces surrounding them. I realised through volunteering how passionate everyone was about their roles and you don't find that in many places!

What advice would you give to your 15 year old self?

Try lots of things and meet lots of people. If you do your best then it doesn't matter if you choose to move on from a position - people will be grateful for the help you've given.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Volunteering helped me make new friends from outside my immediate sphere and figure out what I wanted to do!