Volunteer Support
Mark Smith is responsible for all the operations of SAFE@LAST which includes volunteering. Mark has many years experience volunteering in a number of different organisations and charities as a volunteer delivering a service such as advice, listening, advocacy, roles involving managing volunteers and as a trustee.
He represents the voluntary and community sector on both the Sheffield Safer & Sustainable Communities Partnership Board, which is charged with increasing the number of volunteers in Sheffield and also the Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership.
Mark also led the work at SAFE@LAST in becoming ‘Reach Achieved’ and part of his responsibilities are for developing policy of the organisation which includes those relating to volunteering and our Volunteer Charter.
"I am a firm believer in the benefits of volunteering and the positive impacts it has on both volunteers as individuals – equipping them with new skills, giving them valuable experiences, making them feel more confident and helping their career development, as well as the affect on the community - making a tangible difference to peoples lives, increasing confidence in the community etc. I have lost count the number of volunteers I've has worked with over the years in a variety of roles who have developed and grown as people in their different ways and who have gone on to secure a whole host of exciting jobs.
A common motivation for volunteers is feeling that they are making a difference and therefore I often hear from people who work in the business sector who are fed up with doing sales and are looking for a career change by joining the voluntary sector. What better way for them to ‘test the waters’ and try out if this is really for them and of course get valuable experience, learn and develop new skills at the same time." |
