After completing her International Business Management degree at Heriot-Watt University, Natalia joined People Know How as a volunteer, passing her knowledge onto our digital groups.
Natalia is originally from St Petersburg and came to Scotland for university. Although she did not have much experience in volunteering, she knew she wanted to put the digital skills she learned in her degree into practice by helping people, just like she has helped her grandmother over the years.
After seeing an advert online, Natalia joined People Know How in the summer of 2023, supporting our digital groups that take place each week at the Hibernian Community Foundation in Leith and The Ripple in Craigentinny. Digital groups are a core part of our Reconnect service, empowering attendees by giving them the tools they need to navigate the digital world by offering a supportive environment created by our staff and VIPs (volunteers, interns and placement students).
Our digital groups not only support digital skills but also provide a community hub where people who may feel isolated can come along, have a cup of tea and share what’s been going on in their lives, addressing both digital and social inclusion. Over the three months that Natalia spent volunteering at People Know How her communication and listening skills greatly developed through the social opportunities in our groups.
Bonding through stories
Natalia’s volunteering experience was cemented through conversations and supportive sessions with those who attend our digital groups. Through conversations with Peter, she helped him set up an eBay account to allow him to save money when shopping online. She also supported him in navigating an issue with multiple Facebook accounts, making his online social media presence more secure. This was the foundation of an unforgettable experience for Natalia.
At first, Natalia’s focus was primarily on helping people with digital issues, but as the sessions progressed, she also found herself learning from those she was helping. As her confidence increased, she would exchange stories with Peter, who had spent a period of his youth in the USSR. Through these stories, he could share a time he cherished that he had not since found many opportunities to chat about. It was clear to Natalia how even a small conversation could have an impact on someone’s wellbeing as she and Peter continued to bond over stories of a place dear to their hearts.
During her 3 months of volunteering, Natalia learned the importance of the journey of support. As well as identifying solutions, volunteering can also make a difference in someone’s life by making time to be present with someone and share a friendly chat. While our digital groups focus on providing digital support, they mean so much more to everyone involved. It’s a chance to share something you enjoy with someone else, a social opportunity in a world of isolation and a small reminder that being kind goes a long way in the world.
What's next?
Volunteering with People Know How can help you discover a new career and passion. Since her experience volunteering, Natalia has honed her skills and feels confident in finding innovative solutions. When she completed her degree, she had planned to find a job around processes and systems, however after volunteering and seeing the impact her conversations had on those she supported, she’s since discovered her passion for helping people and is looking to pursue this within her career. She credits this change to her time spent in our digital groups, seeing people from different backgrounds come together and open up to each other through digital support.
Volunteering is an amazing way to learn more about your local community and help ensure that services like Reconnect are available to those who need them. Our digital groups provide the space for staff, VIPs and the community to collaborate, share and celebrate what makes them unique through the power of digital. Volunteering at one of our groups might even help you discover what you love doing like it has for Natalia.