‘Security, Time in Nature & a Part in Something Bigger…’ - A Volunteer’s Story by Sophie Pope
Speak to any careers advisor and they are likely to recommend volunteering. It is often touted as a good way to build up work experience and contacts, especially for young people struggling to find work in a tough job market, or break into a specific trade. But more than this, volunteering can help to foster a sense of community, improve self-confidence and combat loneliness and isolation. Giving your time can instil a feeling of being part of something bigger, of contributing to the world. Offering help to others can make your own problems feel more manageable by giving a sense of purpose, and on a more basic level it can simply provide distraction. Especially if it’s outside in nature, volunteering can provide a big boost to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
“volunteering can help to foster a sense of community, improve self-confidence and combat loneliness and isolation”
However, this can feel like a lot of pressure, particularly for people struggling financially, with mental health difficulties, or those who feel these volunteering spaces are not designed for them. As someone who’s had mental health issues for a long time I understand how daunting volunteering can be. The initial visit can be overwhelming, but even after that, getting yourself out the door and to a group setting can at times be too much. If you frequently don’t go, the build up of shame and failure can become debilitating and form a vicious cycle. But it is possible to move past this. For me this has involved self-reflection, working out what exactly either encourages or deters me from a particular volunteering space. What makes me feel more relaxed, where are my insecurities, what type of people, what style of volunteering feels most appealing? These will of course vary for everyone. In my case volunteering in a garden felt the most approachable way to overcome these barriers. Even then, it still took a few false starts to find a place where I felt I could invest my time long term. But I did eventually find it in Glasbren, a community supported agriculture market garden and vegetable box scheme.
I first visited Glasbren in spring 2019. At the time I was looking for healing, a sense of community, and a chance to get outside and learn about plants. I certainly found all that, and have been volunteering there ever since. My first impression when I visited was a sense of peace and safety, with the gardens nestled in the surrounding hills. It is a beautiful place. There is a river that runs along the bottom of the hill, through native woodlands. Rising up the steep hill are curving beds of vegetables, flowers and trees. All around there are birds, insects and animals.
“Here is a place where nature is honoured, where wild flowers, grasses and other plants spill over paths and in the beds, at the bases of trees and around the seating areas in a glorious tangle of life. ”
The garden has expanded since my first visit, with more beds and trees continuously being added. But there is the same feeling of tranquility and welcome. Here is a place where nature is honoured, where wild flowers, grasses and other plants spill over paths and in the beds, at the bases of trees and around the seating areas in a glorious tangle of life. It is an act of meditation to walk barefoot through the garden in summer, surrounded by buzzing insects and the sound of leaves rustling, while the scents and colours of the plants wash over you. The ground is tactile under foot, a mix of earth and green that you pick your way through, placing each foot carefully. The more you tune in to your body and surroundings, the more you are aware of. Even the sound of people’s voices, often seen as a disturbance in nature, doesn’t seem out of place here. To be in a space where everything, including humans, is at home is very special and very necessary.
At Glasbren there are a variety of jobs to do. There is usually some form of bed building or bed dressing, involving shifting large quantities of compost and woodchip up and down the steep hill in wheelbarrows. It is hard work, but very satisfying! If that is too high energy for you, depending on the time of year you can sow seeds, plant out seedlings, help prepare lunch, harvest produce, prepare it for storage, or pack vegetable boxes. Or if you prefer you can simply sit and admire the view across the hills, or wander along the river and through the woods.
Working outside, whether it’s moving compost or planting seedlings, provides a low pressure environment where it’s comfortable to chat and get to know people, or to work in silence if you prefer. My own experience with volunteering is that it can still sometimes feel too overwhelming, but at other times you do go, and that fosters self-confidence and self-reliance. You start to believe that you are capable, that you can try new things and enjoy them, that you can trust yourself and fill your life with positive experiences. It helps to bring you closer to your potential.
“I came to Glasbren at a low point in my life, and the gentle support and acceptance offered there by the people and land came when I desperately needed it. Glasbren has offered a safe space for me to mix with kind and welcoming people and spend time in nature.”
I came to Glasbren at a low point in my life, and the gentle support and acceptance offered there by the people and land came when I desperately needed it. Glasbren has offered a safe space for me to mix with kind and welcoming people and spend time in nature. Going there has been instrumental to finding my purpose and place in the world, and in giving me a boost when I feel low.
I have now reached a point I never thought was possible, where if I am having a difficult week I actively look forward to volunteering because I know it will make me feel better. This has given a sense of security, and a safety net that is valuable beyond words. It’s taken a few years to get here but it was worth it, and I would encourage anyone who is thinking of volunteering to go for it. Though it might take a while, keep trying until you find a place that fits. The rewards are immeasurable.
