NewLink Wales
Substance Misuse Volunteering & Training
Volunteers' Experiences with NewLink Wales
"Previously, I had been working with Gwent Police as a Drug Education Worker but felt that the work I was teaching was second-hand and I needed to work with users to experience what was really happening. I also felt that the work I was doing was limited and I craved a new challenge - something that each working day would be different and challenging.
Through NewLink South Wales, I was placed in the Wallich Clifford Homeless Community and worked for seven months as a volunteer project worker. The work was very positive for my personal development and carrying out the same work as paid project workers meant that I gained respect from them and they became good friends. Another positive aspect was the diversity of the work; it was not solely substance misuse but broadened my knowledge and experience of mental health, dealing with aggressive clients, housing, benefits and probation, etc.
It was definitely these experiences at the Wallich Clifford that enabled me to gain employment at Newport Action for Single Homeless (NASH) as a support worker. During the interview, it was clearly this work that they focused on and since beginning work at NASH night shelter in Abergavenny it has been more than useful to have had this prior knowledge and experience."
Shogun-Li Thomas
"I came to the Substance Misuse Volunteering and Training Project in July 2000 whilst completing my fourth year of counselling training at Barry College. I imagined that I would gain some basic knowledge and skills, and hopefully the opportunity to apply them to counselling work.
The training turned our to be comprehensive, practical, relevant and fun - I learnt a lot, met good people and re-evaluated some misconceptions. Ongoing training allows me to share and broaden that experience, both from professionals in the field and fellow volunteers in other placements in an atmosphere of camaraderie and support.
My placement at Ashcroft House has allowed me to use some of my counselling skills, but more valuably perhaps, has set my training in counselling and substance misuse in a wider context of a structured programme of rehabilitation. It has also introduced me to networking with agencies and services - social and child workers, probation services, benefits agencies, councils and housing associations, giving me an overview of working in this field which I believe will ultimately help me find employment."
Ceri Morris
"I chose to volunteer with the NewLink South Wales project for two reasons. I wanted to gain a greater understanding of the issues involved with substance misuse and as a student counsellor, I needed to educate myself in an area that I was interested in. The welcome could not have been warmer. I was always made to feel valued and contributory. I was also impressed with the professionalism and content of the training that I received.
When it came to discussing the voluntary placement, my own needs were taken very much into consideration. Because of this attention to detail, I love my voluntary placement and can't envisage a time when I will wish to discontinue. Thank you Shirley and team, I think you do a brilliant job."
Joy Wilkins
NewLink Wales
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