Is there anything else you would like to add?

Experience. I know I've said it a lot, but, it's true. You gain so much from this place it's hard to explain in words, and it is no strings attached so if it doesn't work out, then you can stop. But at least you've given it a chance, most people don't and they don't know what their missing out on.

Would you recommend other people get involved? Why?

I would, because it's just, great. Most people think volunteering is boring, but, it really isn't. Think of them as just another company, that can give you a good reference and help you on your way in the future. I would have never thought about going to charities for work experience with I.T, but I am really glad I did as it's just brilliant.

What have you gained/learnt from your Volunteering experience? Is it what you expected?

I have gained an insight into charities, they aren't just odd little charity shops, they can be large multi-million pound ventures designed purely to help people, but they need help too. Costs are rising, but income isn't, and I have learnt a lot about keeping old computers running using unusual ways of doing it.

What do you enjoy about volunteering for DAP?

I enjoy the friendly atmosphere, while they are based in offices most of the places I go, it's still friendly, people will say hello, and it's just a great experience. For me personally too, it's the fact that I get to work with hundreds of different computer systems, hundreds of different scenarios and I'm learning things I would never have learnt in the classroom.

Had you had any previous experience in Volunteering? If so, where?

I had volunteered at “sports forum”, where they do disabled sailing and other sports activities, and I now run their website, updating it, and making sure it's free of spelling mistakes.

What made you decide to Volunteer for DAP?

I know it's tough in the economic crisis right now, and I also know that the IT industry is some of the most over-charging and expensive areas that a business or charity must invest in. I believed that I could help DAP save money, buying from different suppliers, and would generally be better off to have someone dedicated to IT, learning the new updates, beta testing software before deployment etc...

Also, this is giving me great experience which again, will help me in my future career.

Do you do regular volunteering or on an ad hoc basis?

I do it on a regular basis, when ever I can as the experience I gained here helped me to get a repair technician part-time job without going to university.
Normally I help monday to wednesday, and work friday and saturday.

What are your hobbies/interests? Is there anything unusual you like to do in your spare time?!

I really enjoy video games, building computers for people and solving puzzles with computers in different ways.

What sort of volunteering do you do/ have you done for Diverse Abilities Plus?  What tasks does that involve/skills does that use?

I generally help out in the IT, sorting out problems with the email systems, setting up new laptops, updating the servers, implenting new ideas and plans, and just generally helping out where ever I can.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your past experience?

My name is Michael, and I help out with running the computer systems at Diverse Abilities Plus.

I've always been interested in computers, but it's hard to get experience of corporate systems without having several degrees from university, and for me university wasn't an option with the rise in tution fees. And as they say, actions speak louder than words so I decided to volunteer to both get experience with computers, and to generally just help out in any way I can.