GoldStar - Case Study - Louise Hook - Promoting good practice in managing volunteers from socially excluded groups


Name	Age	Project
Louise Hook	36	Gateshead Access Panel

Louise, who is 36 years old and has mobility impairment, started volunteering in 1992. As part of an A level psychology course Louise had to undertake a two weeks placement. This was done through a disability organisation and the Access Panel was part of that organisation at the time. Louise stayed with the organisation which later became the Gateshead Access Panel.

Louise has now been volunteering with GAP for about 14 years although the time commitment involved has varied considerably over the years. In relation to the motivation behind volunteering over such a long period of time Louise commented:

“I think with the GAP being the organisation that it is...it moves on all the time and you are not stuck doing the same things over and over again. Because the organisation changes with whatever is going on outside, it kind of motivates you to want to carry on doing it (volunteering). I like that about GAP. I’ve known other organisations that stand still but we are constantly moving on and doing different things”.

Louise has been a trustee since GAP became independent in 1997. The trustees meet once every three months. In addition Louise undertakes advocacy work as a volunteer, usually for one day a week. Louise has been undertaking an advocacy role for about two years, but on a more regular basis for the past 1-1½ years. This work covers a range of issues, but particularly adaptations-related work. Training was an important element of preparing for the role, particularly in terms of legislation.

“It’s really nice and good to know that something has happened as a result of your intervention. It also helps the individual as well…knowing that there is somebody else on their side and knowing that that person can fight for what they want. It’s not what you want it’s what they want. If they know that you are on their side then that makes it a lot easier for them just having somebody there.”

Louise is now also involved in training volunteer advocates and also undertakes training on behalf of GAP. This training is undertaken on behalf of voluntary, statutory and businesses that need disability equality training. This training also promotes the social model of disability and the practical implications of the implementation of the social model.

“I find it really worthwhile and really interesting. I am learning something as well if I do the training…legislation, etc. I’m learning all the time.”

However, the time commitment required is reasonably fluid. This suits Louise who suffers from headaches that limit her ability to volunteer. Louise feels this time and work commitment is not too much, but importantly keeps her interested and she feels that she is doing something worthwhile.

“Because I get so tired and I know I wouldn’t be able to hold down a paid job because my impairment varies from day to day. I know I can come in here and I know I can do as much as I can without having to feel as if I have to do it. I know I can go home if I am getting too tired or if I don’t feel well on a particular day I don’t have to come in. So knowing that it puts my mind at rest. But it’s just knowing that I can do that and I am I not letting somebody down or somebody is not carrying my workload if I don’t come in”.

Louise feels that volunteering has provided many challenges, but that the benefits make the effort worthwhile:

“But I enjoy it though. I think that I have got so much out of volunteering on a personal level….I’m learning things all the time. So you are on a learning curve and its never ending which is really good. Doing the advocacy work as well I feel that I am putting something back into GAP for giving me what the organisation has given me. On a personal level I feel I want to give something back to GAP and working with people and knowing that you are trying to make a difference to other people’s lives. I just get so much out of it knowing all that.”

In relation to the promotion of volunteering for disabled people Louise feels the support aspect is particularly important:

“Because you get a lot out of it, because a lot of other people are not able to go out much and knowing that the support is here within this particular organisation, you have got a lot of support here and there is training available as well…you shouldn’t feel daunted by volunteering and I think just having the right king of people here to give you that support. It’s not just the workers it’s the other volunteers who give the volunteers support”.

However, Louise is not so sure how well prepared other organisations would be to encourage volunteering involving disabled people. This is recognised by Louise as being a huge issue.

“Other organisations send disabled people here when they could be doing it themselves. That disabled person may not want to work within a disability organisation. They may want to work somewhere else, but that’s not happening.”

In this regard it is felt by Louise that the same issues exist within voluntary organisations as within other types of employer in that a lot of issues that need to be resolved before volunteering opportunities for disabled people become more widely available.