Give to Gain – My journey from young volunteer to five years as a staff member

Hi, I am Andrea and I am coming up to my fifth year working in communications at Greener Kirkcaldy. However, my journey with the organisation started much earlier when I became a media volunteer in 2014. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Give to Gain. The theme made me think about my journey into my current role at Greener Kirkcaldy and the wonderful women who have supported me along the way.

When I was 16, I began my volunteering journey with Greener Kirkcaldy. I was still at school and took part in a project through YoungScot to be part of the Low Carbon Investigation Team. Laura Copley led this programme.

Laura’s leadership and encouragement set me on my path and ignited my passion for climate action. As part of this I was set the task to research local environmental organisations in my area. This took me to the Ecology Centre in Kinghorn back when they had the Earthship. It then took me to Kirkcaldy where I visited Greener Kirkcaldy’s High Street Hub for the first time. There I met Kitty O’Connor who at the time was working in the Eco Hub shop – she is currently our Development Manager.

Speaking to Kitty was inspiring and a few weeks later I had signed up as a media volunteer. This involved writing blogs, going to events and taking photos. The opportunity I got through YoungScot changed my life more than I ever could have predicted at the time. It allowed me to move into more opportunities that would have a lasting impact on me.

I volunteered for over two years throughout the end of my school years and into college. In that time I developed my skills and confidence, the whole time staff and fellow volunteers supported me. Geraldine O’Riordan looked after the media volunteers. She also looked after all the other volunteers at the organisation. She always ensured I had opportunities to get involved in events, take photos and write blogs. This helped me develop confidence, writing skill and creativity.

Towards the end of my volunteering journey, fellow media volunteer Lauren became a staff member and took over as the media volunteer lead. And yes, this is the same Lauren who is our Chief Executive.

My volunteering experience at Greener Kirkcaldy ended when I moved down south for university. I left with boosted confidence and skills. this allowed me to move into a job in communications at the Scottish Fisheries Museum. Little did I know after starting that job in 2019 that I would return to become a staff member at Greener Kirkcaldy in 2021.

I started in the new role alongside my manager Ea, who remains our Community Engagement Team Manager. I am still in awe of how well she was able to manage me while learning the job and the organisation. I definitely attribute her guidance to developing more structured and strategic thinking.

I love learning from and being surrounded by so many passionate and knowledgeable women. They make a massive impact with their work in the local community. Although there are many others at Greener Kirkcaldy who support and inspire me, I can imagine having a very different experience if there were not as many women around. It gives me that extra sense of belonging.

Almost five years later I am still working at Greener Kirkcaldy. I find it deeply rewarding to be able to give back and use my experience to signpost opportunities to engage with our work to others. It also seems rather fitting that it is now in my role to look after the Greener Kirkcaldy media volunteers.

Coming back to the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – Give to Gain.  My story is one of many that shows creating opportunities for women to grow and thrive makes our community a better place and creates generations of women who can lift each other up and support each other to make a difference locally and globally.

Andrea Harrower

Communications & Events Coordinator