Carol Wilby

Where have you volunteered?

I’ve been very lucky to try lots of different volunteering - from helping an older lady with shopping as a teenager, to litter picking by boat in Thailand, to reading with children in primary schools.

I have also been a Trustee of a local literacy charity, and most recently I volunteered with a clothes bank for refugees and asylum seekers, serving customers, sourcing and sorting donations, and fundraising.

I have loved every role and am currently thinking about what to do next!

Why is volunteering important to you?

I’ve worked either in or with charities most of my career, and know what a vital resource volunteers are to our communities.

Some might say it’s a cliché but I genuinely wanted to give back! And I love meeting people from different walks of life who you can learn from and experience different communities and cultures.

What impact has volunteering had on you?

Where to start! I struggle a little with confidence so trying different things without the expectations of a paid job has really helped me. My reading in schools definitely contributed to my getting a job in a library, which then led to me joining NTU.

Overall, I have met some inspiring people and have a much broader understanding of the challenges people face, and the resilience they have through hearing their stories which helps me not take things for granted and value even the small things.