Whether they’re helping make the London Olympics happen or popping to the shops for a neighbour, those who ‘volunteer’ make a big contribution to society and to helping others, and for the last six days we’ve been celebrating all their achievements as part of Volunteering Week!
If you want to volunteer and be part of something big, Macmillan’s summer internship scheme is now open! If you’d like hands-on experience in an editorial environment, please apply!
You’ll get involved in loads of interesting projects (for more info have a look at the advert), plus it's for Macmillan, so you'll be making a real difference with your writing/editing skills. I’m an Editor in the team, and I’ve actually done a Macmillan internship myself in the past, so I can vouch that they're brilliant and valuable! But for some opinions other than mine, here are what two of our most recent volunteers had to say about volunteering in our team…
Why did you volunteer for Macmillan?
With a background of an English degree, a love of writing and a meticulous eye for detail, this was the perfect opportunity to test out and develop my skills. It was also great to gain a good working knowledge of how a charity operates and to feel part of an organisation which makes a real difference in people’s lives.
How was it?
I feel really lucky and blessed to have worked with such a lovely and supportive team. The nature of the role meant that my work was very varied. I would juggle a number of short tasks such as producing transcripts for an online video or finding photos for leaflet covers but I also had a couple of projects to work through. One example is a project which involved research on finding advertising space for Macmillan’s audio resources. I enjoyed the independence of organising my own calendar and work schedule but I knew I could ask for help whenever I wanted. It also felt great to be able to help team members when deadlines were approaching and to feel trusted and valued as a colleague.
What have you gained?
It feels remarkable to have gone through the 3 months and to look back and think wow, did I really do all that?! Volunteering with Macmillan has been the best kind of work experience I could have hoped for. I’ve learnt and practised so many different skills and I know that I will find the experience useful in any future roles as a lot of the skills were transferable. Whether it was InDesign training, presentation skills or helping Macmillan support people directly in local towns, I was encouraged by my manager to achieve all my objectives. As a result, I feel a real sense of accomplishment, which will hopefully transpire into my next job opportunity. The ongoing process of giving and receiving feedback between myself, my manager and the team also helped me to gain confidence during my internship.
What was the best part?
I think it would have to be the friendly and positive work culture, being able to do what I enjoy and realising what I’m capable of. I used to shy away from jobs thinking I can’t do that but now I feel much more confident about my future employability.
Final thoughts?
From my experience, I really value the worth of an internship. I wouldn’t mind trying another one perhaps in the charity sector again, or I may find an editing role and see where that takes me.
If anyone is considering volunteering for Macmillan, I’d say go for it! It’s a great way to meet new people and try out working in the charity sector, and of course it’s a great way into the world of work if you’ve been absent from the working scene.
How do you volunteer for Macmillan?
I support the Cancer Information Development team at Macmillan with editorial work. I’ve helped with proofreading leaflets and other publications, and more recently I’ve been writing articles for this very blog! I started volunteering because I’ve always supported Macmillan and wanted to get more involved. My own experiences – with close family and friends having cancer – have made me realise how important the work of cancer charities is: the support they offer to patients and their families.
What’s it like?
I love volunteering for Macmillan! The team are so supportive and are always really grateful for the work I do – I live in the Midlands but I still feel like I’m a part of Macmillan. Last year the team invited me down to the Macmillan head office in London to meet everyone which was really nice.
What have you gained?
I have learnt a lot from volunteering for Macmillan – I have learnt about the variety of activities the charity gets involved with, developed my proofreading skills, and most importantly, it has taught me the importance of patient information – that having clear and reliable information available helps patients understand their condition and their options better, and often puts their fears into perspective.
What’s the best part?
It may sound cheesy… but the best thing is the knowledge that I’ve used my spare time to help others. It feels great to be involved with such a brilliant cause, and also it’s really nice to see my blog posts on the Macmillan website.
Final thoughts?
If you think you could get something out of volunteering for Macmillan, do it! Even if you can only spare a couple of hours a week, it’s a chance to get involved with an amazing charity and make a real difference.
If you’re interested in using your skills to help people affected by cancer, while building up your CV, find out more about our internship and apply.
