Building Hope and Community: Volunteering with ADA in Aberdeen

Alan - Embracing Your Potential

I'm a Peer Support Worker with Aberdeen in Recovery, and I volunteer with Alcohol and Drugs Action. My journey with volunteering began many years ago when I started my recovery journey with ADA. Despite organisational changes, I continued volunteering because it gave me a sense of purpose, built my confidence, and it’s something I really enjoy. From handing out leaflets toco-facilitating groups and training courses, volunteering gives me a sense of focus, and has helped guide me through nine years of self-discovery and personal development."

Through volunteering, I’ve gained the confidence to get in to further education and make that transition into employment with Aberdeen in Recovery. Today, I find myself doing things I never imagined, like hosting a radio show and speaking publicly about my experiences. At Aberdeen in Recovery, we share our stories to show others that recovery is possible. My journey from feeling worthless to embracing my potential shows how powerful volunteering can be. I think volunteering is great because I believe in giving back and offering hope to others who may be on a similar journey.

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Jackie - Feeling More Connected

I lost my brother to addiction and I knew he found recovery before he passed. I know how recovery and volunteering helped him so I thought, well, if I can come and volunteer, and I can give back to somebody else, and maybe help them on their road to recovery.

I think with volunteering, sometimes just the simple things can make a huge difference to others – it could be just giving someone a hello, showing you are interested in them, giving them your time.Everybody needs support and coming here, even just sitting and having a cup of tea, in, you're here, you're mixing, everyone all talking together. Somebody else can just add something to make that person's day so much better.

I've got so much out of volunteering. I've met so many people. Rhona is an absolute star and I wouldn't have met her if it wasn't through the volunteering. I wouldn't know half of the people if it wasn't for the group and it's broadened my knowledge and it makes you appreciate so much more when you know that they're getting something out of it.People feel comfortable sharing their experiences here, they leave happy and feeling more connected. I do really like volunteering. You meet so many different people from so many different walks of life.

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Victoria - Finding Purpose

My journey with ADA began as a volunteer just before lockdown. Witnessing the struggles of many in Aberdeen with addiction, I felt drawn to ADA's values and mission. Volunteering not only offered me invaluable experience but also paved the way for my transition into a health and social care course at college. The support and mentorship I received were huge in building my confidence and interpersonal skills, ultimately leading me to become a sessional worker withADA.

For me, volunteering is about giving back and finding purpose. It's an opportunity to explore different passions and break down barriers, fostering a sense of equality and community. Through volunteering, I've formed meaningful friendships, like with Alan at Aberdeen in Recovery. Having experienced family loss, I find solace in supporting others on their recovery journey. It's been a really positive experience, allowing me to both grow personally and make a difference in the lives of others. I think having as many diverse people in your life as possible, it just breaks down those barriers and breaks down social inequality as well.

I think volunteering can help people have a sense of purpose. I find that a lot of people really don't know what they want in life, especially younger people, and they find volunteering is really good for them. Trying different things, experiencing working within different organisations, working with different people, discovering new passions, feeling a sense of purpose; it can only be good for people, can’t it?

Rhona - A Real Lifeline

I volunteer as part of the ADA craft group on Fridays and the knit and natter group at the Citadel on Tuesdays. I've been with the craft group since August2019, and honestly, I've loved every minute of it. It's such a laid-back atmosphere, and I get to help folks in recovery, as well as their friends and family, who sometimes join us. It's like a little community here, you know?

For me, volunteering isn't just about helping others; it's been a real lifeline during tough times in my own life. The camaraderie of the group helped me through some rough patches at work. Being part of the group puts me in a good frame of mind and I come away from here a lot happier It's amazing to see how much everyone enjoys themselves here. We've created a space where people can come as they are, chat if they feel like it, or just sit back and relax. Seeing others flourish in their recovery journey, or just enjoying the company, it's incredibly rewarding. Loneliness can be tough, especially during recovery, but here, it's different. We're all just here to support each other and have a good time. It's pretty special, if you ask me.

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