This week is National Volunteers’ Week. It is a chance to “recognise and thank Scotland’s incredible volunteers.” To celebrate, I wanted to share my journey in volunteering.
A lot of the time when people think of volunteering, they imagine the positive impact volunteers have on their communities. What I am going to discuss in this blog post, is the positive impact volunteering has had on me, the volunteer.
So, let’s start from the beginning…
Like a lot of autistic young people, I really struggled at school. By the time the end of school came for me, I had been out of mainstream education for almost 3 years. I attended a specialist neurodiversity service two times a week, but this was going to stop on my 18th birthday. I was anxious about how I would fill my days. Of course, I could’ve taken the easy route and spent my days watching TV, scrolling through social media, and sleeping – but I knew this was not the best for my mental health. Instead, I knew I had to find a way to get out of the house, have a sense of purpose in my week, and develop the skills I had missed out on learning at school.
I knew at that point in my life that I would not be able to hold down a job. I was only just recovering from my bad experience of school; I was only just getting my head round what being autistic meant; I was only just learning who I was.
A lot of teenagers work in retail or fast food, but this was never an option for me. The sensory issues around food: the smells and textures, would stop me from fulfilling orders. I get distressed in loud, uncertain, busy environments – so working in a shop wouldn’t end well. Never mind the social anxiety and pressure around talking to so many strangers. All in all, going into a job at that time would’ve overwhelmed me and it wouldn’t have been sustainable, or good for my wellbeing.
That’s when I looked to volunteering. What was appealing about volunteering was the flexibility and autonomy it brings. I knew I would be able to go at my own pace and easily get the accommodations I needed for my autism.
My first application and interview was for a clothing store in a hospital. I would be working to organise and display the stock, where patients in need could get clothes. This would help them mentally and physically as it allowed them to get out of hospital gowns and out of their beds.
If I’m being honest, what attracted me to this role was:
1. The idea of sorting stuff
2. The job description stated that I would have to be okay working my myself for long periods of time.
This sounded like heaven to my autistic brain!
Throughout the application process I was very open about my autism diagnosis. This allowed me to get accommodations like receiving the interview questions beforehand so I could process them and prepare; a step-by-step walkthrough of what the role consisted of; the option to do training online; and extra information to calm my nerves.
There were a few things I did which helped me at the start of my volunteering: I made myself a social story with clear statements, accompanying photos and a routine to follow during my shift. I was very restrictive about what I would wear – down to my socks! – to take away any anxiety or choice before. I prepared scripts for what I would say to any nurses who visited the clothing store.
I’m not going to pretend it was easy at the start. On the way there, I would be so anxious I would contemplate not going. There were instances where I had to hide in the toilet because I would get so overwhelmed. I spent a lot of time thinking I’d said something wrong or feeling disgusted because I touched a funny piece of fabric. Very often I would fall asleep as soon as I got home because I was so exhausted and drained.
However, the more I did it – it got easier! Soon I no longer needed my social story. I could choose what socks I wore on the day. I could have impromptu conversations with people and not start crying. To me these were pretty big achievements!
My role in the clothing store developed my confidence, adaptability, and commitment. With being out of school for so long, it was hard at the start to get up and out to every shift – it was certainly a change from my usual routine! Now, being equipped with this experience, I feel much more able to plan my week and stick to it, which helps with all aspects of my life. Confidence, however, has been the biggest benefit of volunteering. Because of my autism, I am a very anxious person and I often have low self-esteem. Since having my role in the clothing store, I am a changed person. I am much more able to step out of my comfort zone, make small talk or go somewhere new – things non-autistic people would take for granted, but are so hard for us.
Equipped with this confidence, I decided to push myself once more. After four months of volunteering in the hospital, I started at The Yard; an adventure play service for disabled children, young people, and their families.
The first thing I noticed about The Yard was that it was lot busier! I was working a longer shift and I had to deal with a lot more people than I was used to. But this was nothing compared to the benefits. It was a fantastic environment – the staff and parents all so lovely. It is also so rewarding working with young people. To me, there is nothing better than working with a child and seeing them leave with a beaming smile. What I particularly enjoy about volunteering at The Yard is that you can see the impact you have on the families directly. You can see the kids enjoying themselves, and you can see the parents start to relax.
I have found that being autistic myself has made it easier to work with autistic children. I can relate to how they feel and understand why they might be acting the way that they are. I am also aware of what could upset them (normally because it’s upsetting me!) and so I can prevent meltdowns, for example, by removing unnecessary stressors.
There has also still been a lot to learn. This is another benefit of volunteering: being able to shadow the staff and learn from them. You can see how they deal with certain situations or manage different activities – all of which I can keep in my bank of skills.
Through volunteering at The Yard, I realised I had a real passion for working with children with Additional Support Needs. I was inspired to apply to a job working with autistic kids, and I got the work!
If you had told me one year ago that I would be sitting today with a real job – I wouldn’t have believed you! I believe it is only down to my experience with volunteering that this opportunity was presented to me. Everything from writing my CV, going to my interview, and my first day at work, was made easier because of my involvement with volunteering.
A year ago, I was not confident, quite isolated, and very worried about how being autistic would impact my life. Little did I know that I had all of these amazing experiences awaiting me.
Autism makes my comfort zone very small. But volunteering has shown me that when I do step outside it, I can achieve great things.
I am autistic 