My Big Local Volunteering Journey

By Lerin 

In 2018, I initially joined Heston West Big Local thinking volunteering would help my CV, however as time went by, I started to thoroughly enjoy volunteering and built a passion for helping my community grow and prosper! Since then, I have been part of numerous amazing projects, such as clean-up days, fundraisers, debate clubs and many more! These projects have helped me grow as a person and learn more about our community.

​One of the first community events I was involved with was the Big Local Community Clean Up Day. We could gather in the morning and then as a group we would venture onto the Redwood estate to help make sure the area was clean by picking up any unwanted litter. I particularly felt that clean up days were one of the most useful ways to help the community. The more people saw us, the more they realised how important it is to keep the estate clean. Events like these made me learn that it important to keep the world around us clean, not just for ourselves, but for the people around us and future generations. 

Lerin speaking at the Big Local Awards Evening

​In addition to the Community Clean Up Days, I was given the opportunity to lead my own Crime Workshop, supported by the former Mayor of Hounslow Mukesh Malhotra.
​During this workshop, I delivered sessions on many topics related to crime and punishment.
​I delivered various workshops including the history of crime, different types of crime, how crime influences people in society and much more. These workshops helped me gain many skills, but most importantly leadership skills. This was the first time I had ever been in control in leading a large group, I learnt how to handle people patiently and also how to be organised and engaging with my sessions.

"I learnt how to handle people patiently and also how to be organised and engaging with my sessions."

In the summer of 2019, I volunteered for the Big Local and Creative Spaces London Summer School. I worked with children aged 6-11 years to help coordinate different creative activities.
​The Summer School not only taught me a lot about myself, but also about children. I got into the habit of building a routine and structuring my day efficiently. It was amazing to watch the children grow and learn each day. I enjoyed working with the group leaders and observing them during the project. This helped me develop my interpersonal and leadership skills even more.

​During Summer 2020, I got offered to teach dance over Zoom during lockdown. With my GCSE’s cancelled and being stuck home all day, this opportunity was so beneficial! It helped me escape from my monotonous days of being on my phone 24/7 and do something more productive. Whilst taking on this role, I looked back at summer school and my previous workshops to see what transferable skills would help me. I was extremely nervous at first, but I am so grateful that I always had someone I could ask whenever I had any queries. These sessions not only helped me gain planning skills, but I became even more confident within myself and my teaching.

"...I became even more confident within myself and my teaching."

​Currently I am studying for my A levels and I am still teaching dance. With all the stress of school, these sessions provide me with an escape to forget about the stress around me and focus on what I love doing! I am so thankful to Heston West Big Local for providing these amazing opportunities to me and will forever be grateful that I get to do something I love alongside my education!