Why Volunteer?

I began volunteering at Greener Kirkcaldy in 2013 and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the time I have spent working on the orchard and Greener Kirkcaldy’s diverse range of opportunities.

To be quite honest, I began volunteering without really knowing exactly what a volunteer was. However, I soon found that it meant much more than “a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task” (oxforddictionaries.com). To me now, a volunteer is someone who can work as part of a team and who can communicate well with others. In the beginning it may seem a bit daunting, but almost right away after joining the volunteers in Ravenscraig Walled Gardens I was made to feel very welcome. Not only have I had the pleasure of working at the community orchard and training area in Ravenscraig Walled Gardens, but I have also planted trees in Dunnikier Park, attended “Wild Walks” and been to cinema nights in the Howff. These are all fantastic experiences and if you have any time at all to give up I would highly recommend volunteering at Greener Kirkcaldy.

Apologies if this sounds extraordinarily cliché, but I have definitely learned a lot in my time so far at Greener Kirkcaldy. I now feel that I can call myself a confident gardener and I have learned about all sorts of things, whether that be making a path, caring for trees or taking cuttings from different plants. Another very important aspect of Greener Kirkcaldy is the social aspect. Not only does this mean working as a team and sharing ideas, but I have visited some fantastic places and social events with the volunteer team.

During my time, I have been very grateful to have been recognised for the work I have done and through my work I have achieved the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards and I am on track to soon completing the Gold Award. Another valuable award scheme for under 25 year olds is the Saltire Awards.

If you’re interested in meeting new people and learning new skills, take a look at Greener Kirkcaldy’s Volunteering Page for some of the opportunities they have on offer.