Have you ever thought about giving something back to the community, giving up some of your spare time for a good cause, perhaps becoming a volunteer worker at a local charity, but have held back because you don't think you have the right skills or experience?

Come and meet Victoria, Hugo, Mike and Bernadette. They have very different backgrounds and work experience. One of them has contact with somebody with learning difficulties in her daily life. For some of the others, being a voluntary support worker or voluntary administrator was their first time working closely with people in need. The one thing they have in common is that they are all valued staff at Millennium Farm Trust. They are appreciated by the group of farmworkers with learning difficulties who, through people like Victoria, Hugo, Mike and Bernadette, get to practise something they enjoy in a caring and enabling environment.

When you first become a support worker at MFT, you will work alongside more experienced colleagues who have already developed a rapport with the farmworkers. If you become a volunteer administrator you will be mentored by staff and farmworkers alike. You will also be given training, such as first aid. You will quickly find out that having prior experience is far less important than having patience and an understanding for the needs of others. You will also find that although the farmworkers have some learning difficulties, they are also very knowledgeable in their fields of interest.

The amount of time you decide to make available to voluntary work is flexible and negotiable, but we do ask that you make a regular commitment so we don't end up making frequent personnel changes - people with autism and learning difficulties often do not handle frequent changes very well.

Victoria
Victoria joined MFT in July 2009 as a direct result of the recession. She has spent six months previously volunteering on a part-time basis whilst actively searching for work. By chance, Victoria stumbled upon MFT through the Volunteering website, do-it.org. Victoria's family are arable farmers in Suffolk, so she has been able to help out in many areas of MFT life. Having previously worked in Administration for several businesses and with an interest in marketing, she joined MFT primarily to help out with office duties and has recently progressed to her current role as Marketing and Publicity Officer. Victoria has had little or no experience of working with people with learning disabilities or anything related.

Hugo
Hugo worked in the City of London as a shipbroker for some 20 years before moving to Suffolk where he ran a Post Office and general store for 5 years. After a few more administrative and managerial jobs, Hugo ruptured his quadriceps muscles in 2009 and was made redundant.

Hugo has been with MFT since September 2009. Joined initially as a volunteer car driver, Hugo now helps out with, among other things, general administration, setting up exhibition displays and selling produce we grow at Rede. This is Hugo's first time working as a volunteer and also his first time working with people with learning difficulties.

Mike
Mike has been involved with the design of products for people with physical disability for over 25 years but has only been working with people with learning disabilities professionally for the past 5 years. For the latter, he is involved with supported living in Bury St. Edmunds and also community based daytime activities.

Mike has been with MFT since April 2008. Mike is a paid workshop manager and paid support worker at MFT. His predominant role is to teach woodworking skills to farmworkers and help them make and repair things.

In a voluntary capacity, Mike attends networking meetings such as NCFI on behalf of MFT and helps with local fundraising events. Mike is also a very active committee member sharing his life experiences in the field of disability with the team.

Bernadette
Bernadette is chairwoman and cofounder of MFT. She is a registered nurse by training. Bernadette lives with a relative who has autism and a learning disability, so has a deep understanding of the needs of this group of people. Bernadette is a firm believer that one size does not fit all and is a keen advocate for giving choice to people seeking independent care and support.

MFT is in urgent need of additional Trustees and support workers. If you are still in doubt whether you have the right skills or experience, think again. Contact us via the contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.