Seth's story: volunteering
Did you know that only 30% of people with autism are in any type of employment?
Meet Seth, a person we support in the South of England, who has been diagnosed with Autism. With the support of his team, he volunteers at a local community farm, so we spoke to Seth to find out more…
Hi Seth, what do you enjoy about volunteering at the farm?
“My colleagues at the farm trust me to do my job well, which feels good and makes me happy. Working at the farm really cheers me up on a bad day and relieves my worries. I love working with animals; they make me feel calm, but I also enjoy working with school children and giving them tours of the farm the most. I’ve always been a sociable person, but working on the farm has really improved my confidence. Volunteering gives me a sense of achievement, and I love giving being an active part of my community.”
What skills have you learnt from your role?
“I’ve learnt how to care for many different types of animals, learning how to help them when they are unwell and understanding what they need to eat and how to feed them. I’ve also learnt to be patient, especially when working with the school children. When there is a stressful situation, I’ve learnt to stay calm and not panic with support from my key worker.”
“I’ve also learned organisational skills, like how to manage my roles on the farm throughout the day. I have learnt better communication skills, like when I talk to the public and help with any questions they have. I now know a lot more about health and safety on the farm.”
How did Choice support you in getting this role?
“My key worker supported me in getting this role and supports me with all aspects of my work on the farm. There is a lot to remember which can become overwhelming at times! My 1:1 support helps me with this, but I have still grown in my independence – I’m a natural when working with the children!”
How is this role supporting your future goals?
“I want to continue to build on my skills at the farm with the support of my team, so that one day I can have a paid job in the future.”
Feedback from Seth’s support team:
Seth’s support team love helping him volunteer at the farm, they said “Seth is well liked on the farm, and as well as forming friendships with other colleagues, he also meets regular visitors and always chats to them. He loves when they bring their dogs! Seth is always helpful when visitors ask him questions, going above and beyond to make their visit as nice as possible.”
