‘Becoming a volunteer changed my life’ (From The Northern Echo)

‘Becoming a volunteer changed my life’

7:43am Friday 6th June 2008 in Campaigns

A MAN who suffered an injury at work said that volunteering has changed his life.

Des Wilson, from St Helen Auckland, County Durham, had worked in engineering for nearly 20 years, but felt unfulfilled and when he suffered his accident, took the opportunity to take a new direction.

He registered with the Volunteer Centre at 2D, which covers Wear Valley and Teesdale and started volunteering with Sure Start, soon gaining new qualifications.

From there, he moved to a fulltime position as an early years worker based between the St Helen Auckland, Woodhouse Close and Taylor Road (Outreach) Children's Centres, in Bishop Auckland, also County Durham.

"I took time to re-evaluate things, and decided that you should go for what you really want to do in life, rather than what other people think you should do," he said.

"The good thing about volunteering is that you can get what you want from the experience, helping others and help yourself too."

This week is National Volunteers' Week, the annual celebration of the work volunteers do, but as Mr Wilson has proved, it can often lead to a new career.

"Working with the children is just so rewarding," he said.

"I have the full support of a fantastic team and this is the first time that I've worked in community involvement and really feel like I'm actually achieving something.

"It's a pleasure to go to work,"

he added.