In celebration of Volunteers’ Week we are sharing some thoughts from the members about how volunteering with Shelanu makes them feel.

Amy has volunteered with Shelanu for the past two and half years.

What do you like best about volunteering?

“I feel happier and more confident”

Do you have a favourite experience or story about your time with Shelanu?

“Working with the group ‘Go Women’ (Women’s Maker Movement project) is my favourite experience because when I saw their collections. They are so beautiful. I feel proud of all of them”

Do you think volunteering for Shelanu has helped you in other parts of your life?

“I made more friends. It widen my view and I learnt more. We like a family. We help each other. The atmosphere in Shelanu is always good. It benefit me also, I feel more calm.”

Kiki has volunteered with Shelanu since the first session in 2009.

What do you like best about volunteering?

“Making friends and helping people”

Do you have a favourite experience or story about your time with Shelanu?

“I’d lots of volunteering jobs but this is the one connects art and I really love it. I find out I love art from childhood but parents not allow me to learn any. I started to learn drawing quite late. I’m happy I can do things connect art.”

Do you think volunteering for Shelanu has helped you in other parts of your life?

“Develop my skills and experience for take part in different workshops”

Emmeline has been a Shelanu volunteer for 3 years.

What do you like best about volunteering?

“Meeting and working with other people as a team”

Do you have a favourite experience or story about your time with Shelanu?

“I never thought that I would be able to make a piece of jewellery from scratch. Learning to make a ring with a stone setting from scratch was really exciting.”

Do you think volunteering for Shelanu has helped you in other parts of your life?

“Yes, I have learned new skills and made new friends, also able to help in various workshops and projects, feeling that the time spent is of benefits to people needing support”

Ruth has been with Shelanu since the beginning in 2009.

What do you like best about volunteering?

“Helping and more helping”

Do you have a favourite experience or story about your time with Shelanu?

“Making new things this is my favourite so we can bring people together to show them new things.”

Ruth also enjoyed going on BBC WM radio, once with Craftspace Exhibitions and Projects Manager, Emma Daker and once with Director, Deirdre Figueiredo to talk about Shelanu and their collections!

Do you think volunteering for Shelanu has helped you in other parts of your life?

“Shelanu is part if my life, because I belong to Shelanu”

“I get to meet lots of beautiful people at Shelanu, Craftspace and the workshops we do.”

Shelan has volunteered with Shelanu since 2010.

What do you like best about volunteering?

“Meeting new people and design and making jewellery.”

Do you have a favourite experience or story about your time with Shelanu?

“Participating in workshops in the new Birmingham library where we were joined by Prince William.”