Volunteering for Learning

A 43-year-old Fife woman who has just completed a course in Volunteer Management at her local learning centre is hoping to go on to even bigger and better things.

For Liz Nicol, from Kirkcaldy, a big part of her job is to recruit volunteers and train them to help look after children staying in hospital, ensuring their visit is a cheery one and helping them to overcome any fears they may have.

However, Liz didn’t actually have any formal qualifications in managing volunteers, which is where Volunteer Development Scotland’s learning centre came in.

The Volunteer Development Scotland learning centre in Stirling is a learndirect scotland branded learning centre. Liz, who works full-time and spends a great deal of spare time pursuing her favourite hobby of singing, was delighted that the centre offers flexible courses she could fit in around her busy schedule and decided to take the course in Volunteering Management.

“Over the last few years, I’ve studied and completed three modules of the Volunteering Management Award. I have really enjoyed doing the studying. It’s been hard work at times but the support to do it was always there from the staff at the learning centre, for which I am grateful.

Liz, didn’t have a lot of spare time for any extra studying but as her study was work-related, this meant she could incorporate it into her working day, especially as she could learn online.

“I found it fairly easy to study as each part of the course was related to work in one way or another and I could pick it up as I went along.

“I’m very proud of achieving three modules in Volunteering Management and look forward to being able to complete the full diploma in the coming year. Doing this course means that a big part of my job has been made a lot easier to manage. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.”