Rafael's Volunteering Story

“You know you’re working towards a good cause, which is a really nice feeling.”

When 15-year-old Rafael was looking to do more with his weekends and gain new skills, he turned to volunteering. Now, after a year of volunteering in our charity shop, he says he’s built his confidence and met some great friends:

“Around a year ago I was looking around charity shops on the high street, looking for something to do during the weekends and as well for work experience that could perhaps enhance my skills for later life

I looked around charity shops and Teesside Hospice appealed to me because it was a really nice looking charity shop and it looked like somewhere I would really like to work. There were younger volunteers which I think would be really nice.

As a retail volunteer I mostly work on the shop front, so that’s basically serving customers, pricing clothes, putting them out.

It’s quite fun because you get to work with other people your age, so it’s a nice social setting. It gives you something to do on the weekends which I believe is very enriching and will enhance you in later life.

What I like is that you can work with other people, and it’s enjoyable because you know you’re working towards a good cause, which is a really nice feeling. We look at sales towards the end of the day and it’s always nice to think ‘well, all this money is going to charity, we’re helping people, we’re helping those with a terminal illness’, and it’s a really important cause which I feel strongly about.

I’d definitely say my confidence has been built by working in a charity shop because around a year ago I was a lot quieter, I wasn’t that open and probably more introverted in my ways. But a year on from working at Teesside Hospice, I’d definitely say I’m more extroverted, I’m more willing to talk to people which is great when going around. It’s great to talk to people, and I feel really happy when I’m talking to other people.

I feel a lot happier working as opposed to not really doing anything at the weekend or just doing homework. It’s a lot better to just go out there and talk to other people and like I said, those skills are going to really help me in later life, and now. It’s always helpful to have confidence and good communication skills, and they’re very transferrable and useful skills.”

To find out more about volunteering at Teesside Hospice and how your time can make a difference, visit https://www.teessidehospice.org/volunteer/.