MASH couldn’t provide the support and services we do without volunteers. Our current team is 100-strong! And we don’t take this for granted.
To all MASH volunteers, past and present. THANK YOU!! The hours, care and skills you give to support women at MASH are so very appreciated. Thank you for showing up with such kindness, care and dedication.
To mark Volunteers’ Week, hear from one of our amazing team members, Claire, about how she got involved and what it means to her.
‘I feel like I’m a better person than I was before I was at MASH. I come away so inspired every time, and I learn something every time I’m there’
Claire has been volunteering at the MASH Drop-in Centre for three months, following a 70-day social work placement.
During her time with MASH, she has supported the everyday behind-the-scenes as a social work student, whilst being a vital presence in the drop in and on the van.
Here Claire explains the impact MASH has had on her, and why becoming a volunteer was a no brainer!
“Ahead of my placement allocation, I knew that I wanted to work with women and felt really passionate about advocacy for people that sex work.
So, when I got the call telling me about MASH, I went on the website and saw this was my ‘dream-come-true’ placement. I went for my 70-day placement and just fell in love with all of it.
“When you’re on placement, you’re getting the opportunity to do more admin-based work such as calling the council about women’s housing options or applying for grants, as well as the frontline work. But for me, I just loved being in the MASH Drop-in Centre, supporting with the van outreach, and being around the women.
So, as soon as I finished my placement, the next day, I said ‘’sign me up!
“In the drop-in, the vast majority of my role is to help facilitate any activities and encourage participation, but also just be a listening ear and someone to have a conversation with.
“You’re also there to help with clothes and toiletries donations, helping women find something that fits their style and makes them feel good. And, making meals – my toastie making skills are way up from where I ever thought they’d be!
“I think so much of the role is just being a non-judgemental, safe presence. This is such a big part of what the MASH drop-in is; it has such a safe community feel to it.
“I’m so excited to go there, which is the nicest thing – being buzzing to go and spend time at the drop-in.
“I think the thing that I enjoy the most is getting to build relationships with the women and see the bonds that everyone has with each other. Just being in a space where the women all look out for each other and want what’s best for each other.
“Being able to be there and see women come in and decompress immediately. Someone can enter and feel so heightened and anxious and then step into a space where they don’t need to worry. The atmosphere is just so nice.
“I’ve never been in an environment where what they’ve cultivated is so warm and open and safe.
“I’ve learned so much personally about remembering the little things and how much they matter – going in and having a chat over a brew and a toastie, it’s just unmatched
“It’s easy to get sort of caught up in big things that don’t really matter, and I think being in an environment like MASH and having those moments to appreciate just sitting and chatting to other people helps so much.
‘I’ve learned so much from the women, and it’s opened my eyes to a lot of things they experience. This experience has directed me in terms of where I want to go in my future career – being able to advocate for women.’
Some advice from Claire if you’re thinking about volunteering…
‘Do it. Do it. Do it. If you find something you’re passionate about, an organisation that aligns with something you care about, you’re always going to come away getting so much out of it.’
‘There’s so many ways to volunteer – and if you can find something you care about, and incorporate the skills you’ve already got, there’s so many places that will need that and be grateful for your time, and you’ll get so much from it’
