Volunteering in Lockdown
Megan, a Health & Social Care student, tells us what volunteering she has been doing during lockdown.
I have always thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with Discovery; they are incredibly supportive and have encouraged me to develop my confidence and self-esteem!
I was not going to let lockdown stop me from volunteering!
I have taken part in the ‘Skill Share’ which encourages volunteers to share any skills or talents that they have in a video to be posted on their page. I made a couple of videos sharing basic Welsh phrases and greetings. I thought this might be helpful to encourage people to share a kind word at this time.
I was then approached to take part in the ‘Supported Volunteering Call Scheme’. Here we are spending time speaking to vulnerable adults who are most grateful to have a conversation and take part in some virtual activities. The main idea here is to increase resilience and to support as many people as possible!
A project called ‘Inspire’ has been developed to entertain and keep in contact with the children that Discovery have supported over the years. Here we follow the ‘NHS 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ to design activities for the children that are fun, healthy and educational. So far we have made a virtual scavenger hunt, an exercise video and a how to for building blocks design. We have many other ideas that we are working on and these are released every Thursday!
Continuing to volunteer in the current circumstances has been really helpful to keep a positive outlook and to keep a momentum and motivation. I’ve been able to connect with other Project Coordinators and staff members, which has been essential for my own mental health!
————————————————————————————————————————–
Rwyf wastad wedi mwynhau gwirfoddoli gyda Discovery; maent yn hynod gefnogol ac wedi fy annog i ddatblygu fy hyder a fy hunan-barch!
Nid oeddwn yn mynd i adael i gyfyngiad i fy atal rhag gwirfoddoli!
Rwyf wedi cymryd rhan yn y ‘Skill Share’ sy’n annog gwirfoddolwyr i rannu unrhyw sgiliau neu talent sydd ganddyn nhw mewn fideo i’w postio ar eu tudalen. Fe wnes i gwpl o fideos yn rhannu ymadroddion a chyfarchion Cymraeg sylfaenol. Roeddwn i’n meddwl y gallai hyn fod yn ddefnyddiol i annog pobl i rannu gair caredig ar yr adeg hon.
Yna, gwnaeth Discovery cysylltu â mi i gymryd rhan yn y ‘Cynllun Galwadau Gwirfoddoli â Chefnogaeth’. Yma rydym yn treulio amser yn siarad ag oedolion agored i niwed sy’n ddiolchgar iawn i gael sgwrs a chymryd rhan mewn rhai gweithgareddau lles. Y prif syniad yma yw cynyddu gwytnwch a chefnogi cymaint o bobl â phosib!
Mae prosiect o’r enw ‘Inspire’ wedi’i ddatblygu i ddifyrru a chadw mewn cysylltiad â’r plant y mae Discovery wedi’u cefnogi dros y blynyddoedd. Yma rydym yn dilyn y ‘NHS 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ i ddylunio gweithgareddau ar gyfer y plant sy’n hwyl, yn iach ac yn addysgol. Hyd yn hyn rydym wedi gwneud rhith helfa sborionwyr, fideo ymarfer corff a sut i ddylunio blociau adeiladu. Mae gennym ni lawer o syniadau eraill rydyn ni’n gweithio arno ac mae’r rhain yn cael eu rhyddhau bob Dydd Iau!
Mae parhau i wirfoddoli yn yr amgylchiadau presennol wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn i gadw rhagolwg cadarnhaol ac i gadw momentwm a chymhelliant. Rydw i wedi gallu cysylltu â Chydlynwyr Prosiect eraill ac aelodau staff, sydd wedi bod yn hanfodol ar gyfer fy iechyd meddwl fy hun!