An Individual's Experience of the Voltage Programme: Habib's Story
Journey Summary of Habib Malik-Mansell, a young volunteer on the Voltage programme...
This page is part of a resource collection for practical guidance around providing volunteering opportunities.
Before the Voltage project started, I had been volunteering at the Hive Music and Media Centre for a short time. I originally started volunteering with the Hive for a couple of hours a week, whilst I was attending the local Sixth Form College. My intention from volunteering, was to gain some additional hands on experience of working with the arts – and to find out whether the arts really was the area which I wanted to focus on with my future career. I was extremely interested in graphic design at College and was considering university to study graphic design specifically. I knew that I wanted to do something creative though in life – and I continued volunteering with the Hive whilst I went on to complete an Art Foundation course.
Volunteering at the Hive on a regular basis ensured that I was able to be given opportunities to participate in certain projects, such as the Voltage initiative. Having volunteered with the Hive on a variety of workshops and events – the Hive team saw my possible potential for progressing further and identified me, along with a small group of other fellow volunteers, as suitable for the Voltage scheme which was being implemented. Alyson Lanning, Director of the Hive, had an informal meeting with me to talk through the Voltage project and the useful opportunities and experience that it could provide me on a personal and professional basis – so of course, I accepted the opportunity and was only to happy to be part of the project!
My role through Voltage was an Associate Youth Ambassador – working with the other volunteers from the Hive, but with the additional responsibility of mentoring them and offering guidance etc. I was gratefully supported by the Hive team and particularly from Ellen Green, who was the member of Hive staff who had been given the role of coordinator for the Voltage project. Throughout my involvement with the Voltage project, we had regular and invaluable review meetings and evaluations, to chart my progress and development for the duration of the project.
Whilst volunteering through Voltage, I worked with the other Hive Voltage volunteers on an exciting and diverse mix of projects and activities. As well as having the opportunity to use my developing skills as a graphic designer (actively designing flyers, posters and even t-shirts, I was also able to progress within areas such as film-making and event management as well. The Voltage group of volunteers organised, managed and successfully delivered a number of interesting events – which included concerts centered around cultural diversity and activities highlighting Holocaust Memorial Day. We attended the Youth Music annual conference where we screened a film focusing on Voltage and the opportunities which it had provided – and we also worked regularly on the Hive’s monthly night for emerging regional talent, Live At The Hive. Here we assisted with the organisation and delivery of the gigs, featuring everything from contacting bands to lighting, through to collecting tickets on the door, serving behind the café and clearing up. Gaining experience at every level of the process!
Highlights of the Voltage project were undoubtedly, working with other focused and dedicated young people who were passionate about providing opportunities for other young people and the wider community. Learning new skills, whilst having a great time and making lifelong friends is an experience which everyone should be able to enjoy – and I know that the other Voltage volunteers from the Hive share this view. Our main success was working together as a team of young people – showing that young people, when given the chance, can make a worthy and positive contribution to the community!
My experience and skills from the Voltage project have no doubt assisted with the fact that I have now become an employee of the Hive – I am Marketing Assistant and the main duty-manager for the building. Whilst Voltage has ended, I am of course now involved with the Centre on a permanent basis and without needing to say so, I love what I do! I still continue to offer my time and skills to the Hive on a voluntary basis outside of my paid employment – and I hope to continue my work with the organisation for a long time to come. It is also lovely to still remain in contact with the other Voltage volunteers from the Hive – and to still have the chance to work with them from time to time. The project ended on a good note – and whilst the Voltage door closed, another one opened… Being part of the Voltage project has certainly increased my employability, due to the variety of skills which I have developed. My confidence also developed to a new level which I never could have imagined before starting the project – having to lead workshops and address large groups of people at the Youth Music Conference for example, certainly helps to make you more confident as an individual. Volunteering at the Hive in general, in addition to the Voltage programme has increased my confidence – dealing with new tasks etc and approaching them with determination and ambition.