Claire Harrison - Project Worker

Claire Harrison is the Project worker for the Millennium Volunteers Project within VODA.

Q. What was your background before working for VODA?

A. Claire graduated from Sunderland University in 2005 with a degree in Communication, Culture and Media Studies. When she left University she didn’t really know what she wanted to do so she started taking part in some voluntary work. She then started working as an administrator, but still managed to find the time to volunteer for the Refugee Service.

After this, Claire started working at VODA as a volunteer.

“I went into the office as a volunteer, speaking to people, shadowing the project workers”

Claire was then sent an application form for an opening in VODA, applied for the job and started working there as a paid member of staff.

Q. What does your role entail?

A. Claire is the Millennium Volunteer Project Worker, which means she works with people aged 16 to 25 who are interested in volunteering for a company on a regular basis.

“I meet up with young people to find out what they want to get out of volunteering”

Claire goes out of the office to meet different people and projects and tries to keep in contact and support the volunteers she has helped as much as she can. VODA have their own projects such as the radio station and the active youth project which takes part in one day activities, such as gardening.

Q. Why did you choose this career path?

A. When Claire finished University she didn’t really know what she wanted to do.

“When I started volunteering I knew this was the sector I wanted to work in”

Claire talked about wanting a job that would mean she would be doing something different everyday, as well as a job that meant she could meet lots of different people. When Claire was a volunteer at VODA, she mentioned the fact that the atmosphere in the company was so nice that she knew it was a place she would love to work.

Q. Have you taken part in any training that has helped you as a person?

A. Claire mentioned her degree from Sunderland University.
When Claire initially chose to do her degree it was because of the variety of items she would be learning, but this in turn meant that although she did learn a lot of information, it wasn’t really focused on a direct route.

“I decided to do my dissertation on refugees”

Claire’s dissertation meant that she found a lot of information about the Refugee Service and the work they do. While volunteering for the service she took part in an NVQ in Mentoring which she mentions helps her in her role at VODA.

Q. Do you have any advice for people thinking about training?

“I believe you can never learn too much”

A. Claire mentioned she is interested in doing some training in the near future regarding youth studies.

“Definitely do it, it gives you a foundation and the clarity of knowing what you will be doing before you do it”