Fran's Volunteer Story

today. I'm talking with Fran, uh, who volunteered with epilepsy. Action. Uh, hi, Fran

Hi. Um, Fran, I'm really interested to know what motivated you to become a volunteer. Did you have any particular reasons for? For that? Um, so I've had epilepsy for quite a long time

I've had it since I was a teenager, and basically one of my main motivations was actually to find sort of a wider community of other people who were going through what I was going through. That was one motivation, but another motivation was sort of to find out a lot more about what these charities do and a and be able to get involved. Um, and the work that epilepsy action do was allowing for that, and their volunteer schemes was providing a lot of opportunities for their volunteers to be very, very hands on

Um, so not only getting to meet other volunteers, but just being able to join in in just such a wide array of activities. And that was a huge motivation on my side. Brilliant

So So, Yeah, so it sounds like, um, you've kind of found what you're wanting to do and you've been volunteering for just over a year now. Um, so can you tell me a little bit more about your experience as a volunteer? Yeah, absolutely. So originally, I'd joined on the 16 to 30 panel

So that was aimed at, um, a panel that would help give advice to those who are aged 16 to 30 who are going through epilepsy. And it was trying to perhaps help them navigate, um, the different ways of the world when you're suffering from epilepsy. But from that, they also offered me so many other opportunities to join in in epilepsy action

And they offered me other ways. And how do you say, uh, of tasks to get involved with? So it wasn't just sitting on that panel. There was lots of other things to do

So what kind of stuff have you been up to then? What have you been doing? Can you think of any examples of stuff you've done recently? Yes. We've been looking at the branding, the new branding that epilepsy action is doing. And it was given to us in a lovely presentation

And then we, as a team of volunteers, got to sit there and give a lot of feedback on that. Um, and that was really interesting because it actually provoked quite a lot of different responses from different people. Um, about how it was going to be used and what they should use and what they shouldn't use

Uh, so it was a very, very interesting discussion. Yeah, So you got to give your kind of perspective, um, as a person who lives with epilepsy, um, about how things should should proceed with the branding and everything. So from what we've been talking about, do you think you feel like empowered in your volunteer role? Um, yeah, definitely

I think that you get given a voice every meeting that I've turned up to. Um, every time I've been emailed, every time I've been contacted via the assemble app, which is essentially a messaging app that epilepsy actually use. You are more than welcome to a voice

Your opinion. B, ask any question that you'd like to ask and see. You always get an answer

So that helps with the empowerment, because you're not being ignored at any stage. And you are constantly being supported by the team at epilepsy action. Which again, that links in with the empowerment, but more than anything you're definitely listened to

And your views are definitely taken on board, which is really, really refreshing. Um, and it's just a very, very positive side of the volunteering. Yeah, that's really great to hear that you do feel, um, empowered and listened to, um and obviously we really do appreciate, um, your kind of feedback as well

Um, so just to finish up looking to the future, what kind of excites you in the future about being a volunteer? Probably do things mainly you. You almost don't know what's coming, and that's not an that's a positive, not a negative. As in epilepsy action are doing a lot of different things

There's campaigns running. There's so many different opportunities to get involved, and you're allowed to join in with almost any task that you would like to join in with. Um so that side of it is a real real positive, and it's something that's really, really exciting

But the other side of it is that the work that has been started is still ongoing, and there's still lots to be done. So all the empowerment, all your views being taken on board, that's still happening? Um, it wasn't something. A lot of what I've done is not just a one off task

There's more meetings being booked for later this year that is already in my calendar. And you're allowed to just continuously keep building those relationships that you've started building with other volunteers and with those who work at epilepsy Action. Um, and that's something that's so so kind of exciting, uh, about doing these roles

Yeah. So you kind of feel like you're being taken along on the journey, aren't you? You just like being talked to, and then that's it. You're kind of like progressing

As things are progressing, you're being involved as well, so yeah. Yeah. Not being left to one side in the slightest or left behind, um, at all

You're definitely included in everything, right? Well, again, that's really great to hear. Um, and it's so, uh, you know, so good to see that you're so kind of excited about what's coming up in the future as well. So that's brilliant

Well, it's been really great to talk to you today. Thanks so much. Um, for sharing your volunteer story with me and, um Yeah, that's great

Cheers. Not a problem. Thank you

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