* Please note - names have been changed for anonymity purposes
Lola (not her real name) moved into her Quo Vadis Trust (QVT) supported housing flat in August 2024. Like many of the people QVT supports, she came looking for stability – a safe place to call her own and the right support around her. What she found exceeded her expectations. Within months, Lola had not only settled into her new home but had taken on a volunteering role with the organisation – helping to plan and run group activities for fellow residents. This is her story, in her own words.
When did you first come to Quo Vadis Trust, and what was going on for you at that time?
“I came to QVT as a resident in August 2024. I was keen to move because I wasn’t too happy in my old place, but QVT was better than I expected. The support is great — and I like having my own contained flat.”
How did you first hear about volunteering at QVT, and what made you consider getting involved?
“I attended the activities in the house, and then later one of the staff suggested that I could do volunteering. I thought it would be a meaningful use of my time. It’s not great to have gaps on your CV, so in a way, when you volunteer and you help others, it’s good for you in more ways than one.”
What have been the most positive aspects of volunteering at QVT, and have there been any challenges along the way?
“The positive aspects are that you’re using your faculties. Since I’ve studied in the past, I like to read and research, so it helps you prepare for activities. I get to interact with other clients, listen to their suggestions and make the activities more fun for them. It also gives structure to the week — preparing for Coffee Sessions, Art Sessions. And it helps with skills like researching topics or sending emails.”
“The challenges I find are actually part of the fun. Sometimes gathering all the information for the group can be hard. But that gives the whole process more purpose. If it was easy, it would be boring.”
How has QVT supported you in your volunteering role?
“I had support right from the interview to where I am now. I’ve been volunteering for about three months and I feel supported. If I have any questions about the role, they’re answered straight away. There was a period when I was working more on my own, but the Client Development Manager helped me through that time, so I haven’t been without support. During office hours, the staff are always happy to answer questions.”
What was life like for you before you started volunteering with QVT?
“I didn’t have as much structure to my week. I didn’t have anything to plan for. I do other volunteering once a week elsewhere, but there’s no preparation involved — you just go and do the job and come back. Whereas this volunteering is more like an ongoing project: coming up with ideas, being creative, planning the activities.”
What motivated you to become a volunteer, and what does volunteering mean to you personally?
“It gives me a sense of purpose. I take on responsibilities, which I think is good. It’s not like having a paid job, but it’s giving me the skills to get to that stage. Personally, it makes me feel proud of myself.”
What changes have you noticed in yourself since becoming a volunteer?
“I feel more satisfied. I feel like my weeks are more productive. I can account for what I’ve done each week. And if I wasn’t doing this, I wouldn’t be interacting with people as much. I think it’s helped me be more confident. Even though I only volunteer twice a week, I have a more positive outlook on life.”
What would you say to others who are considering participating in activities, or becoming a volunteer?
“I would suggest that clients go to the activities because it’s social — you get to know the people you’re living with. You’re having interactions that can lift your mood, sometimes without you even realising it. And if you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer, it’s a bit more responsibility alongside the benefits — but volunteering is more rewarding.”
How do you see volunteering fitting into your future goals and hopes?
“Since I started volunteering, I’ve noticed it’s a lot more relevant than I first realised. It’s building you up towards whatever you want to do. You’re practising skills that you can transfer to whatever you want to do in the future.”
A Step at a Time
Lola’s journey reflects something we see again and again at Quo Vadis Trust: that when people have the right home, the right support, and the right opportunities around them, they grow in ways that can surprise even themselves.
Volunteering isn’t right for everyone at every point in their journey — but for those who are ready, it offers something invaluable. Structure. Purpose. Connection. The chance to contribute, not just to receive. And, as Lola puts it, the chance to feel proud of yourself. At QVT, we believe recovery and independence are built in small, meaningful steps. Lola is proof of exactly that.
