From First Step to Full Time: A Volunteering Journey at Penrose Roots

As we relaunch volunteering at SIG this June, we’re proud to share real stories that show just how powerful that first step can be. Will’s journey with SIG Penrose Roots began with curiosity, grew through creativity, and led to a fulfilling career supporting others. Starting as a volunteer after hearing about the project at a mental health recovery group, Will discovered new confidence, purpose, and a passion for helping others grow. Today, a decade later, he reflects on how saying “yes” to volunteering changed everything, not just for him, but for the many people he now supports.

My journey started with meeting Samantha Smith (the Service Manager at SIG Penrose Roots ) when she gave a talk at a mental health recovery group I attended.

She spoke about the roots project and her ideas for it. This struck a chord with me, and I wanted to know more.

We then met at the SIG Penrose Synergy office, where a group of us discussed the project. I mentioned that I like working with my hands, doing furniture, woodwork and mechanics.

Sam asked if I would be interested in setting up a small woodwork group at the office. I agreed to this, and we set a day we could do it.

This was my first step into voluntary work.

The first project was a picture frame. In the style of a garden shed. The group enjoyed the project, and the result was a great hit at the staff conference that year. I felt a huge sense of pride in the project and all the work we put in as a group.

Sam then came to me and Peter, who had joined the group, and said about a plot of ground the council had offered for the Roots project, and enquired if we would like to view it along with her. We agreed to.

At the plot, she explained her vision and ideas for Penrose Roots to Recovery, and asked us for our thoughts. We both said it was a brilliant idea and vision, and we would be very happy to be involved in getting it running.

I volunteered for just under a year, then Sam asked if I would like to become an employee of Penrose Roots. I liked the idea of getting back to employment, but I was very nervous. We agreed that I would start on an assisted work basis.

After 6 months of assisted working, I was offered the opportunity to become a full-time employee with SIG Penrose Roots. I was very nervous, but I took the step into full-time working.

I was based in the garden, working with the members to build the sheds, raised beds, polytunnel, and kitchen.

We heard from the local councillors that the bike project at Stockwood Discovery Centre was closing, and we thought the units would be good for woodwork, furniture, and art projects.

We spoke to Luton council about the possibility; they came back to us offering the whole bike project in its entirety. Sam asked if I would be interested in taking the project on and splitting my time between both projects.

I thought it over and agreed. This was in 2019, we started the workshop on 1 day a week, and it was very popular. Then came lockdown, when we had to close the bike project, though we could still do the garden with limited member numbers.

After the lockdown, we reopened the workshop and found there was a good demand for spaces. This led us to open a further 2 days a week. I also had the idea of opening a small woodcraft workshop in the bike storage room, which proved popular, with 1 participant becoming a volunteer for the project. The same happens with the bike workshop; members became volunteers both at the workshop and in the larger community.

I tell people I don’t go to work! I go to my favourite place with amazing people.

I love working with the members and passing on my knowledge, watching them grow in confidence and tackling tasks they never thought they could do.

We now sell some of the bikes we repair, which gives everyone a great sense of achievement, seeing their work going on to a new life.
This year marks 10 years since I have been employed, with a further year as a volunteer, and I still enjoy every day with the members.

If you volunteer and are offered the chance of employment, I recommend taking that step; you are worth it. I was asked about my biggest achievement, and in all honesty, it’s being offered the chance to be part of the Penrose Roots team, that is, the staff, the brilliant volunteers and all the amazing members.

William Wiltshire, Project Lead at SIG Penrose Roots

 

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