Our Volunteer Stories
Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and contribute greatly to our work and impact in the community. Not only does volunteering help our charity, it also helps people gain skills, meet new people, try something new and give back.
Hafsah's Story - From Volunteer to Staff Member!
Hafsah joined the Money Advice Team as a Reception and Administration Volunteer in April 2025. Looking for experience in business admin, Hafsah applied to volunteer with Birmingham Settlement’s Money Advice Service.
“I had volunteered for other charities but there wasn’t always the opportunity to be ‘hands on’. I gained some customer service experience, but this was very much retail-based and not where my interest lay. The Money Advice Volunteer role turned out to be everything I wanted, it was hands-on, developing new skills and dealing with the phone calls. I was well supported by the staff, and it was great to feel trusted to carry out a range of tasks.”
Hafsah volunteered weekly for around five months and was then asked by the manager if she would consider working for the service instead. For Hafsah, it was a no-brainer, she joined as a part time member of the Money Advice Team in September 2025 and is very happy to be working in the role.
Hafsah’s experience is a great example of volunteering leading to employment, and it also demonstrates Birmingham Settlement’s commitment to developing and nurturing volunteers.