Matt Buck joined us as a volunteer in 2024 during a period where he was looking for a new work opportunity. During his time with us, Matt supported us on the reception desk at our Dudhope Castle HQ and at The Circle Mobility. In late 2024 Matt’s time as a regular volunteer with us came to an end as he secured a full-time job but he has stayed in touch and hopes to continue volunteering on a more ad hoc basis.
We spoke to Matt about his experience volunteering with us:
Why did you want to volunteer?
I had been out of work for some time and was struggling to find new opportunities. I didn’t appreciate the negative effect this was having on my confidence and self-esteem at the time but looking back I was in a bit of a rut for a good while before I decided to start volunteering, and it really helped me turn a corner.
Why did you choose to volunteer at The Circle?
I wasn’t sure what I was looking for to begin with and randomly turned up at Dudhope Castle one afternoon after seeing a vacancy on DVVA. I had a chat with Charli (the Volunteer Coordinator at the time) and started volunteering at The Circle Mobility. I was very taken by how personable and friendly everyone was, and it just seemed like a good cause to be a part of.
What did you enjoy the most volunteering at The Circle?
Seeing the positive impact of the work that we do on our service users. Whether I was at Dudhope Castle or down at the Mobility office, being able to interact with members of the public using our services and seeing how grateful they were made it worthwhile.
What did an average day look like whilst volunteering at The Circle?
I don’t think there was an ‘average’ day during my time at The Circle. The role was so varied, and no two days were ever the same. Working on the front reception desk at Dudhope Castle was obviously a constant but there was plenty of variation in the admin tasks I was assigned when I wasn’t meeting and greeting visitors. Working at the mobility office, I got involved in all sorts – from hiring out mobility scooters to test-riding tandem mobility bicycles!
What did you gain from volunteering at The Circle?
Initially volunteering gave me some much-needed structure and purpose that I’d been lacking for some time, and in time it gave me renewed confidence. The staff and other volunteers were great to work with and I hope to stay in touch.
What are you doing now/what do you hope to do after your time at The Circle?
One thing that really impressed me during my time at The Circle was their commitment to assisting those looking to get back into work. The staff were very helpful in providing useful CV feedback and accompanying the volunteers to recruitment events in Dundee, and I first made contact with my current employer at one of these events.