Volunteering With A Disability: “I Feel That I Am Accepted As I Am”

- by Emma Purcell

Volunteering offers benefits from giving back and making a difference to gaining skills, references and friendships. Pete, a volunteer at The Salvation Army shop in Cosham, has experienced this first hand. Despite arthritis, hearing loss and a learning difficulty, he thrives with the support he receives. In this interview, Emma Purcell explores his volunteering journey.

Pete lives locally to Cosham and has been volunteering for the past nine years. The 58-year-old shared how, despite his physical limitations, he still really enjoys volunteering:

“I am less mobile than I was due to my disability, but I still feel very valued and appreciated, and I hate being unable to attend the shop for any reason. I enjoy updating our customers about ongoing offers and deals and helping others in any way that I can. I have a cheeky personality and have a lot of banter with our regular customers. I particularly enjoy the relationships that I have built with the staff and other volunteers, and we all have a laugh and a joke and enjoy our time together… I don’t feel that I am treated any differently because of my disability, and I love that everyone is part of the same team.

Pete opened up more about his level of impairment and how the organisation adapts to his needs so he can fulfil his voluntary duties:

“I have severe arthritis in my legs, which has worsened over the past few years, leading to several falls. I now use a walker to help me to and from and within the shop. The fact that I now use the walker meant that I was able to continue coming to the shop despite my falls, and my manager, Andrea, has adapted things so that I am still able to help out by giving me jobs to do whilst sitting.”

He added: “I also have mastoiditis, which I have had for as long as I can remember, which can affect my hearing at times. I tend to shake at times, but I am not sure why. I often need help carrying things due to this.”

Pete secured this voluntary role through You Trust, an agency that works with adults with learning difficulties. He first attended an interview with Andrea with a job coach, and started soon after. He said: “I felt at ease from the start and didn’t feel that I had to be anything other than myself.”

Pete also praised how, in this role, he can feel accepted and has given the flexibility to work as much as he can manage:

“I tried to volunteer at another charity, but they were limiting the hours that I could do, and at times, it was too much. I was happy to come here as I was able to choose my own hours and do as much or as little as I wanted. I don’t feel that I have had to adapt to work here – I feel that I am accepted as I am and love that.”

Advising on what Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (also known as SATCoL, the trading arm of The Salvation Army which operates over 250 shops on behalf of the charity) and other companies can do to support people with disabilities in the workplace, Pete said:

“Just accept people as they are and do what you can to make things easy for them. I very much feel that the attitude Andrea has is that it is not always what the shop gets out of a volunteer, but what a volunteer gets out of being there and being part of the team. Be patient and don’t get frustrated with having to repeat themselves until they understand.”

Pete also shared some words of wisdom to other disabled people who are seeking paid or voluntary work and advised how they could get involved with SATCoL or similar organisations:

“Go for it! I would highly recommend SATCOL as we are very well looked after and there is no need to be frightened.”

As well as gaining satisfaction, skills and friendships, volunteering at SATCoL can also provide you with free training opportunities, a step to paid employment, a wellbeing support platform, plus much more. Discover ways you can get involved and the voluntary roles available here: https://salvationarmytrading.org.uk/support-us/volunteering/