Filling the Cup: Darren's Volunteer's Journey with Activate Mental Health
- AMH Volunteer Team
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Volunteering is often described as a two-way street, a reciprocal act of giving and receiving. For Darren*, an Activate Mental Health ("AMH") volunteer, his journey with AMH clearly represents this.
Driven by a sense of gratitude after attending an AMH event himself and experiencing firsthand the organisation's generous spirit, Darren felt compelled to "take as a participant and give back as a volunteer themselves to AMH."
Darren's volunteer experience with AMH has resulted in significant personal growth. "It helped me personally," he reflects, emphasising the "fill up your cup" aspect of volunteering. This journey of self-development was further enriched by connecting with "like-minded people," expanding his social circles beyond their usual boundaries. The intrinsic "satisfaction of giving" provided a powerful sense of purpose. He was also exposed to information and experiences he wouldn't have encountered otherwise, leading to personal development and broadened horizons. Most importantly, he "made new friends," supporting a sense of community that AMH fostered.
In delivering volunteer events for AMH, this gave him the structured commitment of pre-scheduled events to "develop material", fostering a sense of proactive engagement. Memorable moments included engaging with other participants. Darren witnessed firsthand how AMH provided a "safe space to make friends." For a participant, attending the AMH event became a transformative experience, enabling them to "articulate [their] voice in the group," contributing significantly to their confidence in public speaking.
When asked about advice to expectant AMH volunteers, Darren's response was clear: "Go into it without any expectations, giving more and not expecting anything back." Darren stressed the importance of persistence, highlighting that "results coming back" are often a byproduct of consistent effort. He emphasised that contributing to AMH "doesn't take a lot of time," encouraging others to consider the impact even small acts of service can have. Darren's experience serves as a testament to the transformative power of volunteering, both for the individual and the community that he serves.
*= The volunteer who provided AMH with his story preferred to use an alias and chose to be anonymous.
This article was written by Sofia, a member of the Activate Mental Health volunteer team.
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