Volunteers Week 2016 - Rosie Morgan-Stuart Volunteer Coordinator

This is a very special week for me for two reasons, firstly, because this is #volunteersweek, and as Volunteer Coordinator at LADPP, it gives me a chance to thank our wonderful volunteer team, without whom, LADPP simply would not be possible. Secondly, because it was exactly two years ago this week that I joined LADPP as a volunteer. I have been Volunteer Coordinator for a year and a half now.

We generally have roughly 80 volunteers at any one time and during my two years here, I have had the pleasure and the honour to work with around 120 volunteers from both the U.K. and different parts of the world, which has been both enriching and exciting.

The kindness and empathy our volunteers show to our users and each other and the support they offer to the staff is humbling. Particularly impressive are our user-volunteers, those, who although themselves experiencing difficulties, still find the time and the energy to give to others.

​For example, Rosa, who, brings in a homemade lunch for everyone every time she volunteers on reception, or William, from the Management Committee, who comes in at the end of every day to clean up the office or Alan, Skills for Work Advisor, who although his volunteer shift officially ends at 1 and he comes in on his only day off, always stays till 4 (at least!). There simply are too many acts of kindness and wonderful people to mention here, but I sincerely thank them all.

What strikes me is that by becoming involved in a migrant organisation, I gained a sense of community that I never felt previously in London. 

Every day, LADPP volunteers inspire me and remind me of what together we can achieve. As Eduardo Galeano said,

​‘Many small people, in small places, doing small things can change the world.’