Laura is one of our events volunteers - you may have seen her at our legendary Pancake Race
How long have you been volunteering with Launchpad and what made you get involved?
I have been volunteering with Launchpad for about 14 years. It all started when I was made redundant and had some time out before looking for another job. I decided to do some volunteering, and a friend suggested Launchpad. I joined the HR team and volunteered two days a week on various projects for around seven months before I needed to return to paid employment.
I got involved because the work Launchpad does is so important. Not having a home is incredibly tough, and Launchpad does everything it can to support people, whatever the reason they find themselves homeless.
What does your volunteering entail?
As I work full time, I support Launchpad’s events whenever I can. These include the Pancake Race, the Carol Concert, the Audax Ride, and this year I have also helped at the Community Day at the University and at Waterfest. My role at these events involves chatting to members of the public about Launchpad, raising awareness of the charity, and encouraging donations.
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
It might sound a bit of a cliché, but I enjoy knowing that I’m supporting a great cause. It’s rewarding to know that, in some small way, I’m helping people who really need it, and that gives me a real sense of satisfaction.
What would you say to anyone thinking about volunteering?
Go for it! Launchpad offers so many different volunteering opportunities that I’m sure everyone has skills they can use. I’ve met some wonderful fellow volunteers. Some I only see once a year at the same events, but we always pick up where we left off and it’s like we’ve been lifelong friends.
How does volunteering fit in with your day-to-day life?
I work full time, and life is generally quite busy, so I volunteer whenever time allows. There’s never any pressure, and Launchpad is really flexible, which makes it easy to get involved when I can.