Welcome to the Change Makers Interview Series!

Where I chat to Change Makers, who dedicate time outside of their day jobs to make a positive contribution that helps people or the planet.

We explore some big questions. How do you recognise a calling to change the status quo for the better? How do you start? How does it feel and change you to be contributing in this way?

My first interview is with Emma Thomas-Hancock. Emma’s commitment to contributing to positive
change in her local community is inspiring. She has been donating her time as a volunteer for many years.

Emma’s interest in volunteering led her to work for the charity Volunteering Matters, where she has now been for 22 years! She started her career coordinating a project encouraging young volunteers to get involved with crime reduction initiatives. She is now Director of Delivery, responsible for the charity’s volunteering and social action projects across the UK.

We chatted all about life and her love of volunteering, from her many volunteering roles to her experiences of menopause and trying to conceive as a lesbian couple.

We explored the value of volunteering and how it gives back to us in many ways. Emma shares some fantastic advice for how you too can find a fulfilling volunteering role supporting a cause close to your heart.

"Volunteering is an amazing thing to do. Don’t be put off by not having time because there are lots of flexible things you can do as a volunteer. "

Tell us about yourself

I’m at a big turning point in my life. I turn 50 next year. I’m massively menopausal, that has fundamentally changed me, physically I look and feel a bit different. Also, mentally I have a different outlook on life. That has taken me by surprise. I thought I knew what the menopause was and how it impacts your life, but you don’t really know until you’re living it. And it’s a big change.

The driving force in my life is this massively lucky bond I have with my partner Beth. I feel very lucky to feel loved, totally understood and supported. The other amazing things in my life are my two daughters, Ruby and Martha. Ruby and Martha are now 18 and at university.

As a lesbian couple in late 90s, it wasn’t quite the same as it is now and there were lots of ups and downs in the journey to get Ruby and Martha. When we first started the process there were many clinics that turned us away, they wouldn’t help two women get pregnant. It was a real eye opener for us at the time in terms of where the world was at that time.

That was the first time I really felt the experience of discrimination, it was before 2010, before the changes to the equality act when sexual orientation became a protected characteristic. Institutions and medical places could say no we don’t agree with your lifestyle, we won’t treat you. That would never happen today, they’d be breaking the law if they did that now, but back then it was totally acceptable.

We found an amazing clinic, based in London Bridge. If there is anything to learn about organisational culture you would learn it from that clinic all those years ago. From the person who greeted you, to people scanning, to people doing the bloods, everyone was totally incredible and accepting. We felt very cared about and invested in by the clinic.

What attracted you to the voluntary sector and what keeps you contributing?

When I left University, I worked for a local authority but felt unfulfilled. I started to volunteer as a youth worker in a LGBT youth club. They paid for me to train and then I worked in the evenings as a youth worker. This experience spurred my life forward and ignited my passion for volunteering.

Then a job came up at Volunteering Matters working with young people. When I got the job I was terrified, I didn’t think I could do it, I had imposter syndrome. I chucked myself into it and learnt some really important lessons.

Volunteering Matters has offered me lots of opportunities to develop, try new things, to travel and meet some fantastic people. I’ve now been Director of Delivery for 7 years. It’s been really incredible and really challenging. I learn something every day.

"He welcomed everyone as long as they were clean today, it didn’t matter if you weren’t going to be clean tomorrow morning or you weren’t last night. "

You share your skills and volunteer for a number of charities and community groups. Tell us more.

When I moved to Brighton I trained as a volunteer mentor for aspiring community leaders. This was an amazing experience as I mentored Pete Davies, the founder of the addiction recovery charity Cascade. Pete was running the charity on his own, doing everything, such a difference from the infrastructure and support that exists in a larger charity.

He had a vision to open a café for people recovering from drug and alcohol misuse. I really admire him for creating a non-judgmental safe space. He welcomed everyone as long as they were clean today, it didn’t matter if you weren’t going to be clean tomorrow morning or you weren’t last night.

I joined Cascade as a volunteer Trustee and got stuck in helping with HR and volunteer processes. I’ve also been a volunteer Trustee at Emmaus supporting their volunteering programme. Emmaus has an amazing community feel and I learnt so much from participating on the Board.

When my girls were growing up, I worked away from home and wanted to find a way to be really involved in what they got up too at weekends. They joined a football team and I got involved in many volunteer capacities. I was a Committee Member, Manager of the Team, Welfare and Social Secretary. I arranged kit, put the goals up, supported on safeguarding.

I was the first lesbian to join the community and one of only a couple of women. The guys on the committee were so welcoming, giving and supportive of me. I really enjoyed being part of that community.

I’m a volunteer bingo caller at LifeLines, a project working with older people. I call bingo in two supported housing associations on a Thursday afternoon, it’s a total joy, all of the prizes are groceries and food. My Nan was a bingo caller, for many years as a volunteer, my sister and I would go and help her during the holidays.

Yes, absolutely. When I was younger it was all about feeling called to support young people with their sexuality, because I’d had some ups and downs coming out and I felt I could offer something.

My Uncle died of alcohol addiction at a very young age, that was big driver for me around supporting Cascade’s work.

I also feel called to support work around Homelessness. So many people experience this and it’s so hard to see people outside in the winter weather. I give money but you can’t give money to everyone, the scale of the problem is too big, so helping in another way feels important.

The other driver for volunteering is the people. I’ve met some amazing people through volunteering.

"Volunteering has definitely changed me and helped me become a more rounded person  "

We all have personal callings to make the world better, an inner sense that we have something to contribute or that we want to help address a particular issue. An idea that keeps surfacing over and over until it is followed.

Is this true for you? If it is, what did your calling look like? Has this shifted and changed for you over time?

Who has your volunteering helped you become?

Volunteering has definitely changed me and helped me become a more rounded person and develop my strategic thinking skills.

I’ve worked in the same charity for many years which is a massive blessing, but it has also meant I didn’t have experiences of other organisations, so my volunteering has been my outlet for that.

Volunteering as a Trustee has increased my knowledge of different types of organisational cultures and how cause led organisations work.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about volunteering but is unsure where to start?

I would say do it absolutely! Volunteering is an amazing thing to do. Don’t be put off by not having time because there are lots of flexible things you can do as a volunteer.

Start small, don’t feel like you need to make a massive commitment, try out a few things. Spend time talking to the other volunteers where you are thinking of volunteering, you’ll get a good steer from them whether this is something you want to do or not.

Volunteer somewhere they invest in their volunteers, with a dedicated Volunteer Manager or someone who is a named person to come to with questions. That makes a difference.

Donations are always needed in the charity sector but the gift of your time does bring something even more special. I see this daily in my work.

"We need to move away from charities doing stuff for people, towards people coming together to do things for each other. "

Is there a fundraising cause, community project, or advocacy campaign you would like to share with us? How can we learn more and offer support?

Go local and support a local cause. There are lots of them to choose from. One cause close to my heart, is helping older people overcome isolation and loneliness, something like LifeLines.

Projects that bring fun and connection for people will ultimately make a difference long term. They create the space for people to come together and support each other. We need to move away from charities doing stuff for people, towards people coming together to do things for each other.

As we go through what’s going to be a couple of tough years for people, let’s focus on the loneliness agenda and really support each other through that.

"Donations are always needed in the charity sector but the gift of your time does bring something even more special. "

LifeLines, is a project in Brighton that supports older people to share their skills and volunteer to run wellbeing and friendship activities for their peers. It’s run by Volunteering Matters.

If you would love to support Emma’s fundraising cause, donate to Volunteering Matters to help them help more people.

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