We speak to new volunteer Max, on the e-commerce team
Please tell us a little bit about your life outside of BCDH
I am currently in my first year of a four-year Politics degree at the University of Bath. I work part-time as a chef in a pub and have recently started tutoring GCSE History for underprivileged youth. I love books, music, and football, and play weekly in a team with my uni course mates.
How long have you been volunteering at BCDH?
I joined the E-Commerce team as a volunteer at the start of March 2023.
What do you do here?
Supporting Daniel in the E-Commerce office, I sort, research and list donated books and CD’s on our eBay shop. I always find myself gravitating towards the books and find something interesting to research further every week! To help with the volume of donations and to streamline the listing process, I have started setting up templates for listings which can be personalised per item.
Why did you want to volunteer for BCDH?
I must admit I had never really considered volunteering until my girlfriend Maddy suggested it, and I’m glad that she did! Being on campus at the university, I heard about BCDH due to its proximity, and I liked the idea of volunteering for an animal charity as animals cannot help themselves. I was pleased to discover when I enquired about volunteering opportunities that I could use my experience with eBay to raise funds which would directly support the animals in the care of BCDH.
What do you most enjoy about volunteering?
The people are great, working alongside Daniel and Simon the E-Commerce office was easy from the get-go as they were so friendly and welcoming. The work itself is fulfilling and interesting, and it’s easy to get lost in it! Being a student, I really appreciate the flexibility offered and the understanding that I might not be able to come in during exam times or when I have assignments due. It really is two of the best hours of my week and I always look forward to my volunteering shift.
What would you like to say to anyone considering volunteering for BCDH
It is definitely worth your time. It begins as a small commitment but can grow if you want it to. It’s inspiring because everyone is united by a common purpose. I came in for a taster session to get an insight into the role and there was no pressure to commit, but I was excited right away to get started. To students like me, I would say that it is so easy and do-able, the team are flexible, and you can fit your role around your timetable. Once you see the facilities and the work being done, you’ll be hooked!
» Go see our current volunteer vacancies available