Ben’s volunteering story
"It was an absolute pleasure starting to volunteer with Humankind and see the people in my group grow in confidence. They have opened up to new experiences despite their own vulnerabilities and fears. I feel very valued here and in my role."
Name: Ben Hall
Volunteer role: Teaching guitar groups at 5 Ways.
Why did you start volunteering with Humankind?
5 Ways as a service is absolutely amazing, it is such a great asset to Leeds. I have a lot of respect for the people that work there and the people who engage with the service. I feel like letting go of unhealthy coping mechanisms and channelling it into something else is such a courageous thing to do. I started volunteering as I wanted to be the person that I needed when I was at a low point in my life. 5 Ways and Forward Leeds have let me contribute in a way that works for me, and lets me share my skills with people. I love the relationships I have built with people, and the level of trust that comes with supporting them on their journey whilst I am still on my own. It was an absolute pleasure starting to volunteer with Humankind and see the people in my group grow in confidence and open up to new experiences despite their own vulnerabilities and fears. I feel very valued here and in my role.
What is your favourite part of your role at Humankind?
Being a part of people’s lives and their journey. I really want to validate people’s experience and let them have a voice whilst having empathy and compassion. I love hearing that people are hopeful for the next chapter of their life.
What does your day look like when you volunteer at Humankind?
I volunteer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I run the guitar group, and depending on how this goes I organise one-to-one lessons with people throughout the rest of the week. I also can branch out to doing a bit of singing if it works for that group.
How did you get your passion for the activity you do at Humankind?
I discovered music in my teens. These years were not good for me, I was quite neglected but music was something for me to hold onto. During the mid-90s I got into Brit Pop, and started learning the theory behind music. I picked it up quickly, and realised I enjoyed singing and writing songs / melodies. The creativity really helped me.
What has been the impact of volunteering on you?
Some of the people in my group are doing so well, they are truly good, honest people that I have enjoyed building relationships with. It is also just fun sharing my knowledge and skills!
