What I enjoy about volunteering

I enjoy meeting our members and assisting at the events and speaking to them about my own personal lived experience, being autistic myself, I wanted to pass on my knowledge and experiences to others. By sharing experiences and best practices, it can often lead to the autistic person and/or their families having those same experiences and have those meaningful and relatable conversations. I find volunteering very rewarding. I had the opportunity to assist with an ALN Christmas Concert at our local theatre with the National Autistic Society Swansea Branch and was wonderful to see everyone in the festive spirit in a relaxed, accessible and inclusive way. We supported the concert and ensured it was a relaxed experience for all and had some tremendous feedback from artists and audience members, we’re already planning the next concert! By doing the relaxed and inclusive approach, the autistic individuals could be themselves, didn’t have to mask, and could just have the best time!

I have also supported quiet spaces at events with fidget toys and ear defenders available to those to wish to use them. It has been so beneficial for those using them and has been insightful for me speaking to those who use our sensory packs.

The difference I make

I feel that by sharing advice and offering support, it can put our members at ease when attending the events. By having volunteers who can understand and empathise with them makes a huge difference. And by having the lived experience of being autistic, I can see how those conversations offering support and advice are helping the autistic individual / their families. Very often, I see the same members come back to the same event every week / month so just having that familiar person there can make a big different – it removes any potential anxieties the autistic individual may experience and can instantly enjoy the event, knowing that there is a person who knows them and is familiar to them.