Page 23 - link magazine

The Link Magazine' February 1996 23
Volunteering - what's in it for you? ROTTEN WOOD?

Julia Cole of Thamesdown Relate, a regular contributor to The Link magazine, PEELING PAINT?
reflects on where her volunteer work has taken her
DRIPPING GUTTERS?
I first joined Relate, then called the many other magazines, contrib-
Marriage Guidance Counsel, ten uted to two books, and have been
years ago. If anyone had told me commissioned to write my own SOLUTION
that one day I would be Press Of- book. Last month I was appointed Maintenance free
ficer for National Relate I would Press Officer for National Relate, a
have been astounded. full time post, heading up Relates's UPVC fascia boards
I was a housewife with a young response to the media nationwide. cladding & guttering
son and a baby daughter when I These days it is not unusual to Expertly fitted
began training as a volunteer coun- meet people who view being a at DIY prices
sellor. It certainly never entered name change from Marriage Guid- volunteer as 'second best'. But,
my imagination that I would even- ance to Relate, I agreed. I was although it isn't paid and it can be FREE SURVEY
tually be paid to be a counsellor. extremely nervous, but it must hard work, you never know what NO DEPOSIT
Indeed, part of the attraction was have gone well because I went on is waiting around the corner. I
the chance to put something back to undertake media training at certainly didn't, and I have re- WORK IT OUT YOURSELF
into the community; people often Relate headquarters. The then ceived more than I could ever have 20' fascia board fitted £50
spoke to me about personal con- head of Relate Public Relations dreamt of from volunteering. I 20' fascia &
cerns and counselling seemed a asked me to be a link person for have also felt privileged to work gutter fitted
£115
good choice. national media enquiries, so I vol- with many hundreds of couples in
As I progressed throughthe unteered again. Thamesdown. Their learning was 20' fascia, soffit
£175
training I began to realise the com- I was surprised that this meant I also mine. They have enriched my & gutter
£110
plexity of couple relationships, and often spoke to writers on national life in a way they may never know, 20' fascia & soffit
learnt how to help couples under newspapers and women's maga- and I am profoundly grateful. (prices correct at time of publication)
pressure. I also saw first hand zines, and over the last five years When I was at school I wanted
how effective counselling was. have been consulted on hundreds to be a journalist, but was told to THE
Sometimes the change in couples of different subjects, all connected stick to something 'safe', so went
was dramatic, but more often there with relationships. But perhaps to teacher training college instead. IFE ThiN
were steady improvements over a what really set me on a media path Volunteering has helped me to
longer period of time. Witnessing was a telephone call from Bella achieve a lifelong dream. Perhaps (IEW
this change was infectious - I magazine, asking me to write arti- your dreams are waiting to be ful-
wanted to share the message about cles entitled 'Couples in Crisis', filled too. Maybe volunteering for
how helpful counselling could be. chiefly because of the quotes I had something you are interested in For a FREE QUOTE
So when my manager at given them in the past. From this could achieve your dreams. You
Thamesdown Relate asked me to small beginning grew a freelance have nothing to lose, and perhaps Tel: 827494 anytime
do a radio interview about the writing career. I have written for a great deal to gain.

Excuse Me!! AA Appointed Sed

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