Volunteers’ Week
As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’re sharing volunteer case studies of Paul and Simon, two of our amazing volunteers from our Move On Wood Recycling workshop in Edinburgh.
Move On Wood Recycling is a social enterprise that collects waste wood, sells quality timber and provides work experience, training and volunteering opportunities. The service aims to save resources by reusing and recycling waste timber that would otherwise go to landfill, as well as create sustainable jobs, training and volunteering opportunities for local people, especially those who might find it difficult to get into or back to employment.
With 14 regular volunteers at our Move On Wood Recycling workshop, the volunteer case studies below are a small sample of the generous people at the heart of our Edinburgh social enterprise.
Volunteer case studies
Paul
How did you hear about Move On Wood Recycling?
“It was through the Volunteer Edinburgh website.”
How long have you been volunteering?
“I’ve been volunteering in general since 2011, but with Move On since November 2019 so about 14 months.”
Do you have any previous experience of woodworking?
“Yes, I’ve done a lot of DIY and I went to a couple of training weekends run by James Thomson who does timber frame buildings in Fife, where I had a more formal training.”
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
“I think the staff team is amazing. I think the way the volunteers are treated at Move On is an example of gold standard treatment.
I like the kind of work I’m asked to do and this is because I’m strongly motivated by recycling and so would only work for a charity that was involved in environmental care.
Move On is doing an amazing job generally and in terms of what it does with collections, trade relationships and volunteers, it deserves every success.”
Simon
How did you hear about Move On Wood Recycling?
“That’s a funny story: basically I was doing up my flat and came over to Move On Wood Recycling a couple of months after they opened, went in to get wood and James convinced me to join – the persuasive man that he is!”
How long have you been volunteering?
“I think I’m the longest volunteer, since October 2018 (roughly two and a half years).”
Do you have any previous experience of woodworking?
“No, but I do now! I started at Move On Wood Recycling mainly because I moved up to Edinburgh and this was the first volunteering opportunity I came across and was something a bit different.”
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
“I guess during these times it’s meeting people in an environment that’s legal! It’s socialising; communication; talking to people; the opportunity to mingle with more than one person outside; comradery; the conversations; the skills learned. The delivery driving is really good fun and the opportunities that it offers in terms of upskilling.”
Volunteering opportunities
Our Move On Wood Recycling volunteers can help with a variety of tasks, including driving our van, helping on wood collections, speaking to customers and making upcycled furniture in our workshop.
Due to social distancing restrictions, we’re not currently looking for any new volunteers. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact James on wood@moveon.org.uk.
If you’re interested in waste wood collections, buying quality reclaimed timber or upcycled products, or training or volunteering opportunities, find out more on our Move On Wood Recycling website.
Find out more about the variety of volunteering opportunities we have available in Glasgow and Edinburgh, including mentoring, befriending and volunteering in our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland warehouse.
We have shared more volunteer case studies this week, including case studies of volunteers from our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland warehouse.