The Asthma Podcast - Transcript June 2010

Luke: Welcome to the Asthma Podcast. Every month we’ll bring you news, research updates, asthma advice and ways you can support us. 

Volunteers play a vital role for Asthma UK and we have a diverse range of opportunities for people to offer us their time. We’re joined by Claire Randolph from our Community, Development and Volunteering Team. Can you tell us more about some of the work that volunteers do for us?

Claire: Certainly. We have a range of different opportunities. From being one of our advisory forum members, we have various different advisory forums, from one for Black and Minority Ethnic people, for one for people with asthma and those who care for people with asthma, for young people and also for people living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. And you can be an e-campaigner, so you can do it from the website. You can come along and support some of our events. So at the marathon you can come and cheer people along, who are raising money for us, help out at the Kick Asthma holidays that we run for children with asthma. Or also help out with our research and policy volunteers. Now they help on any researchers that are doing research around asthma, sometimes they want to talk to people with asthma so they can understand things better. But also we like to make sure that people are involved in trying to say what kind of research we should be doing.

Then of course, there’s media case studies. People who really look to share their stories about asthma. Either in the media, or in other forums. Or you can become one of our trained volunteer speakers who go out in their local area to give talks or to staff a stand, to make people more aware about asthma and the work that Asthma UK does.

Luke: So there’s a really broad range there. Is there any particular roles that you’re looking to recruit for at the moment?

Claire: I think yes, we always need case studies. We’re always very keen to have more people who are willing to share their stories and their experiences of asthma. We definitely need some more volunteer speakers, particularly in England, particularly in areas like the North-East and also the South-West. And events support, we’re always looking for people to come along and cheer at the marathons.

Luke: And volunteering has obvious benefits for Asthma UK, but also for the volunteer themselves?

Claire: Yes indeed. One of the volunteers that’s on our Users and Careers advisory who we’d also be very glad to have more people join, said that volunteering stopped from going under and she’s got a child with very severe asthma so that’s obviously very helpful to her. And we know as well that people who volunteer are proven to have better health themselves, live longer, make more friends and also some people do it to acquire skills that they might need for future jobs.

Luke: So it’s a really great opportunity for someone to develop themselves?

Claire: Absolutely. Whether you’re looking to develop skills, like I said, to get a job or if it’s just for your own personal interest. If it’s a new skill that you want to acquire and we’re also aware that many people out there have a connection with asthma. And they want to give something back and this is another perfect opportunity to do that.

Luke: And if people would like to get involved or to find out more about volunteering. How can they do that?

Claire: The best thing for them to do is to call our Supporter and Information Team at 0800 121 62 55 or they can also check the volunteering pages on the website.