At the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea, we’re proud to support young people like Maia, who have taken incredible steps towards building confidence, learning new skills, and connecting with others through our Supported Access programme. Are you aged 16-25 with a disability, learning or mental health need, or a long-term health condition? Our one-to-one sessions can help you find adaptive and accessible volunteering placements, participate in creative workshops, and prepare for the next stage in your journey to employment.
Maia’s story is a testament to how our programme can transform lives, and we’re excited to share her journey. By reading her experience, we hope you’ll be inspired to join and discover new opportunities for yourself!
Maia’s Story
“I first visited the Volunteer Centre as an appointment was arranged via my mum. I found it to be a good meeting; the whole atmosphere and vibe were really calming, and it wasn’t super hectic. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, knowing that I had a place that would help me find activities I’d be interested in and opportunities to learn new things.
After the meeting, I attended some volunteering sessions (Wellbeing Gardening group) and other activities like the play reading sessions at the Playground Theatre. The experience for both was very nice. I love gardening, and everyone was really welcoming – I connected with people instantly. The play reading session was fun as I really love theatre, and we got to read a play that someone from the group had written, which was pretty cool!
(Pictured: Maia at the Future Makers Furniture Training)
By registering with the Volunteer Centre, I now get emails for a range of different opportunities. That’s how I found out about the Future Makers furniture-making workshop at Goldfinger’s, and I decided to sign up to that directly. The workshop was really fun – I got the opportunity to learn about it, and we started playing games like ice-breaking activities and others, and I got to learn new things. My favourite thing from the workshop was using the drill. I loved meeting new people, and I made a bunch of new friends who I remain in touch with!
As a result of joining the Supported Access programme, I feel happier and more confident. I connected with more people, which was an opportunity I didn’t have as much before joining.”
Learn More and Join!
To join and learn more about our Supported Access programme, click here.
You can also contact our Wellbeing team via email at email hidden; JavaScript is required or call us on 020 8960 3722 (Monday-Friday 9.30 AM – 5.30 PM) and they will be more than happy to assist you on your journey.
