Helen Banecki – volunteer

Coming from Durham myself I have always been aware of the socioeconomic issues facing the area. My volunteering work in the past at Food Banks as well as my degree in politics have exposed me to the wider issues which can cause people to become homeless or leave them at risk of homelessness. As people it is easy to feel helpless when we see rough sleepers or vulnerable people and therefore, I knew I wanted to find a meaningful organisation to work for that meant I was doing something proactive in my local community.

I applied for work experience with DASH after being introduced to them by my Mam, who use to work for the probation service and therefore had worked with them before. DASH sounded like the perfect opportunity for me to see the work that goes on behind the scenes and how a charity operates from a business and financial side. My volunteering centred around marketing and communications where I made posters, designed sections for the website and contacted local businesses for corporate volunteering opportunities. Working with DASH has been a highly rewarding experience, allowing me to develop my communication and office skills as well as making a positive difference to my local community. DASH is an amazing charity, not just in what they do but the staff are also highly motivated and accommodating to new volunteers offering a friendly and flexible working environment. I can’t recommend them enough!