The Power of Volunteering
18 October 2019
Joe Jones and Carwyn Williams both faced tough, but very different, circumstances growing up and in an effort to turn their lives around they each grasped an opportunity through volunteering.
Chris Gledhill was the youth worker who saw their potential and says, “The biggest thing with me was their reliability, their enthusiasm and their motivation.”
Now the two young men are firm friends with new skills, confidence and have even won awards thanks to their volunteer work.
These are their stories...
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That Moment When - Someone Believed In Me
Two individuals grasp an opportunity to turn their lives around through volunteering.
Joeβs story
I grew up with a speech impediment. It gave me a lot of anxiety and it made me really, really nervous about talking in front of people.
Push yourself to be the best person you can be
[Carwyn and I] met through football sessions on a Wednesday night. Now we’re best friends!
Chris has made me the man I am now with the opportunity that he gave me. The main drive for me was to get out of a rut, out of a really bad depression. That’s when my life turned; I haven’t looked back since.
Before I was quiet and anxious, but now I’m probably the loudest person, apart from Carwyn! It gave me a lot of self-belief.
I’ve won the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Wales Sport award for the young volunteer category. It’s probably the most nerve-wracking 30 seconds waiting for that envelope to be opened but once I heard my name it was probably the best feeling I’ve felt.”
Joe’s top tip:
Just try and push yourself to be the best person you can be.
Carwynβs story
“My experience in school wasn’t good. I was getting excluded, I just didn’t want to be there.
If people put blockades in the way just smash through them
I [was diagnosed with] mild ADHD, so it was really hard for me to focus. I just didn’t talk. My confidence hit a major low at that time.
Chris gave me the opportunity to run different classes in youth clubs, also in schools. He gave me the opportunity to go to my former school and it was amazing. The headteacher that expelled me, as soon as I walked in, shook me by the hand and said ‘Welcome back’. I was so happy.
That was the moment that literally turned my life around.
I think I’ve gained confidence. I never had a dad figure: with Chris giving me the opportunity to further myself in what I think I would never achieve, he was always proud of me after I finished delivering a session. So I thank him for that.
I won three awards in one year: volunteer of the year for Wales, Conwy County young volunteer of the year and the St David’s award for young person of the year. My award got presented by Chris Coleman. It was amazing.
Carwyn’s top tip:
If people say that you can’t achieve anything, don’t believe them. Always think of your goals and you can achieve that, no matter what. If people put blockades in the way just smash through them.
