Chris an IT volunteer for various charities
What inspired you to volunteer?
When I retired a couple of years ago it meant I had a lot of spare time on my hands. I did some volunteering about 15 years ago after I had been made redundant. I enjoyed that experience so it seemed an obvious thing to get back into again.
What volunteering do you do and who with?
At the moment I conduct an IT Drop In session at Fareham Library on Monday morning. On Tuesday morning I help a couple of visually impaired people at Portsmouth Central Library in the use of the library’s computers and on Tuesday afternoon I help at an IT class that is run by AgeUk in Fratton Road. I also teach acoustic guitar at a couple of beginner groups at Cosham Library and the Central Library.
When did you get involved with this organisation?
I first got involved with Hive in February 2021 when I volunteered at the Covid Vaccination Centre at St James Hospital.
What attracted you to this role & organisation?
I spent 40 years working as a computer programmer, so helping people in the use of computers seemed to be the obvious choice.
What are your activities and what do they involve?
In the main it involves helping retired people in the use of laptops and tablets. This ranges from people who only know how to switch it on, so want to know where to go from there. Other people want help with specific problems such as ordering items on Amazon or putting adverts on Gumtree or Ebay.
What motivates you to stay involved?
I think helping people solve the various problems brings a great deal of satisfaction.
What have you personally gained from volunteering?
Being posed different kinds of questions means I have to frequently search for answers which increases my knowledge of technology.
What would you say to anyone thinking about making the leap and volunteering themselves?
I think there is a lot to be gained from volunteering such as meeting a wide variety of people, the satisfaction gained from helping them solve their problems, and as a consequence of this volunteers increase their knowledge at the same time.