“The role I’m in is exactly what I want to be doing”: Hannah’s journey from volunteer to Member Coordinator
June is Community Month, kicking off with Volunteers’ Week from 2 – 8 June. Our Member and Project Coordinator, Hannah, first joined us as a volunteer after completing a degree in Criminology in 2024.
She reflects on her journey and the opportunities that volunteering can provide:
Coming to the end of my degree there was a shared uncertainty amongst my peers of what the next steps could be. We all had an idea of what we wanted to do, but having heard about the slim likelihood of getting into the job that you’re hoping for, it felt like people started applying for things that were nothing to do with what they wanted. I had done lots of volunteering previously for different organisations and I always found that I fit best when I know I truly want to do the work I am doing.
Whilst I was at university studying Criminology I heard about organisations like Revolving Doors, and I knew it was the type of work I wanted to be involved in.
I felt that Revolving Doors offered something others didn’t: it wasn’t a support service limited by the allowance of what was already possible, but an organisation that wanted to fundamentally change those limits, providing support services with more options and giving people more opportunities. I knew that the work I was doing would offer me invaluable experience that I wouldn’t get in another role.
What does volunteering offer?
Volunteering gave me opportunities that I wouldn’t get elsewhere: experience and skills in a role that I was passionate about and could potentially turn into a paid role.
I’m grateful that I was able to turn this volunteering opportunity into a full-time position, but I know that if that had not been possible, Revolving Doors would have supported me in pursuing other opportunities that I might not have felt able to approach on my own.
In the current job market, there are many barriers to finding work. Volunteering removes that concern, giving an opportunity to experience an organisation or a team in a more hands-on way.
Volunteering isn’t always easy, but the challenge is what I’ve found most rewarding. When I first started volunteering, I was working a separate job on the side. My ability to do that proved to me that the work I was doing at Revolving Doors was something that I was truly motivated and passionate about. I was able to do it because of the amazing support that I received.
Going from volunteering to my full-time position as Member & Project Coordinator I’ve learned that the work I do is valued by my team. The people that I work with are supportive and resilient, and the role I’m in is perfect for me.
The highlights so far
I had the opportunity to go to the Clinks annual conference, hearing from people all throughout the sector. I visited Parliament, meeting with MPs alongside our members and sitting in on a public evidence session with Lord Timpson, furthering my understanding of the priorities of the sector.
Revolving Doors also encourages me to pursue external knowledge. On one of our self-directed days I went court-watching, visiting a magistrates court and sitting in on cases, something I might not have done without their encouragement.
I was also directly involved in the development of the Revolving Doors Academy which saw its second cohort of new lived experience members finish not long ago now. Experiences like these let me see first-hand the difference my work has made.
What’s next?
I’m excited to see where my journey with Revolving Doors takes me. I’ve already had so many experiences that I wouldn’t have had, had I not started working here. I’ve seen a growth in myself and my capabilities that I’m excited to continue to nurture my journey.
I’m particularly looking forward to expanding my abilities as a Project Coordinator, supporting the team on upcoming projects as I continue to recruit and support any new members in their journeys with us. I’m always looking for ways to improve this process to ensure everyone is getting the most out of their time with Revolving Doors, as I have myself.
