‘Volunteering changed my life’

Julie Rutherford

Every year 22 million people volunteer and in doing so contribute around £18 billion to the UK economy. In Rochdale, 42 year old Julie Rutherford found volunteering transformed her life for the better.

Ms Rutherford of the Lower Falinge Estate, said: “Before becoming a volunteer I felt completely isolated.

“This made me feel depressed but I didn’t have the confidence to make any changes to my life. It was a viscous circle.”

Ms Rutherford’s dream was to be a teaching assistant so with help of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s scheme ‘Opportunity Knocks’ she began volunteering at a weekly parent and child session at a local primary school.

“I was so nervous when I first started volunteering,” she said, “I didn’t know anybody and I was sure that I would get everything wrong.

“However, after a few sessions I really got into the swing of things. Not only did I learn important new skills but talking to the children, meeting their parents and of course the other staff vastly improved by confidence. This made me feel so much better in myself and my mental and physical health improved.”

Ms Rutherford was so impressed with how volunteering benefited her life that she threw herself into numerous other local community groups as a volunteer. This included a gardening group and becoming part of resident panel which makes decisions about funding in the area.

She also volunteers as a helper with a junior warden scheme run by RBH and recently took the role of vice-treasurer with the Tenants and Residents group.

“It’s hard to believe that this strong, articulate, out-going woman is the same Julie I met a year ago,” said Khalida Crossley, Priority Area Worker for RBH, “Volunteering has not only helped Julie develop her skills and career but just as importantly has helped her deal with her loneliness and depression.”

Ms Rutherford is now a volunteer teaching assistant at the primary school, and since taking this position has been offered a part-time job at the school. RBH has obtained match funding for Julie to enrol at a local college to begin teacher training.

“I volunteer for around 15 hours a week,” said Ms Rutherford. “This together with my college course, homework and my new found social life means I lead a busy and fulfilling life – something I could never have hoped for such a short time ago.

“You can be a volunteer for so many reasons. To help a group or community you believe in, to learn new skills, to develop your own potential or to meet new people. I am now a real advocate for volunteering and will always encourage other people, young and old to get involved.”