Volunteering has led graduate Euan into not one, but two paid roles. He continues to give his time at our Food Redistribution Centre though, saying it’s given him more purpose in life as well as new skills and opportunities.

“I was at the volunteer’s fair in Preston in summer 2024 and met some of the Charity’s team,” he says. “They told me about FareShare and stopping food waste and I thought that’s really important and really interesting, and that it would also be a good way for me to get out to meet people and make a difference.

“I’d been out of employment for a while after leaving university through during Covid. After that meeting, I started volunteering at FareShare, and also at Preston Volunteers Centre.

“I started off just doing the warehouse stuff. I was a bit awed by it at first – there’s all these stacks of foods that would’ve gone to waste.

“Now I deal with admin, inducting new volunteers, and helping at the volunteer fairs. Vivienne [Volunteer Coordinator] has been really great, giving me all sorts of different tasks and inviting me to networking events. I’ve gained lots of connections with different organisations, learnt a lot of new skills, and it’s really helped my confidence.

“I didn’t have much purpose before volunteering. Now I feel I’m making an impact and helping people. That’s a good feeling

“Since I’ve been volunteering, I’ve got two separate jobs too – one is with a community mapping project, and I’ve also been taken on part-time at Preston Volunteers Centre too. I still spend Wednesday mornings and Thursdays at FareShare, though.

“It really changed the trajectory of my life meeting Vivienne. Her background as a careers advisor has really helped me.”