VN&V Summer 2014
Volunteer chat
Leona
Wilson
Meet Leona, volunteer at Turnaround, our service based in Bradford
which provides support and advocacy for trafficking victims.
06
Tell us about yourself
I’ve been volunteering here
for nearly three years. I was
interested in supporting
vulnerable children and young
people and now I want to do it
as a career – I’m just finishing
my first year at uni doing a
social work degree.
How did you become a
Barnardo’s volunteer?
Word of mouth. I knew one
of the workers there so I
went down to find out more.
I think I’d always volunteer
at Barnardo’s even if I went
on to do something else.
The Turnaround team really
inspire me and I get on well
with young people.
Tell us about your role
at Turnaround
I’ve had quite a few different
roles since I’ve been
here, from admin work
to delivering awareness
training for young people.
More recently I’ve been
doing therapeutic outreach,
contacting young people
that aren’t engaging with
the service. We go out in the
evenings to get in touch with
them or leave calling cards.
People appreciate that you’re
making the effort outside of
normal working hours.
How has your role changed
since you started?
I’ve learnt so much and I’ve
really grown as a person.
When I first went there I just
really wanted to help people.
I did a lot of shadowing,
going out on visits watching
how qualified employees
worked with young people.
I’ve learnt
so much and
I’ve really grown
as a person.’
Now I work on befriending
and outreach for ‘low risk’
young people – those that
have come away from a
worker or they’ve decreased
the risks they’re taking. I’d
like to get more involved in
work around child sexual
exploitation. It’s been a lifechanging experience for
me – before this I worked in
a casino – completely
different work!