Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Siobhan!
Say hello to a brilliant volunteer at The Key, Siobhan Hepinstall, as we shine a spotlight on her role as a Volunteer Panel Member (VPM) for The Key! 🌟
With a background that spans across the charity, business, and youth sectors, Siobhan brings a whole lot of experience – and even more enthusiasm – to her role as a VPM.
A little bit about Siobhan: “My Irish parents gave me the name Siobhan that translates to Jane in English. I grew up in Manchester and moved to the North East in the 1980s with my job as a general manager. I have had a few different jobs working with charities, business and young people and I have four daughters. I run a photography business and travel all over the country with work, but I don't take the pictures!”
When she’s not volunteering with The Key, you might find Siobhan running (slowly, as she says!), swimming, or helping to make her village bloom with flowers. She’s even training as a walk leader! But at the heart of it all is her love for bringing people together: “I love to cook and bake and I'm most happy with friends round the table for a meal and chatter.”
Why volunteer?
For Siobhan, volunteering with The Key is about giving back and growing personally.
“Volunteering is so rewarding. It's an ideal way to find out about wonderful projects, meet new people and make a positive difference to people's lives. It's also great to give something back. I am passionate about supporting young people to reach their full potential and The Key is an ideal organisation to be involved with to do this.”
And her favourite part about being a Volunteer Panel Member? Watching young people step up and shine: “I've really enjoyed seeing the young people present their pitch. For most of them this was the first time they'd had to do something like this. I enjoyed seeing their pride and sense of achievement and how much their confidence grew.”
A moment to remember:
We asked Siobhan about a pitch that’s really stuck with her: “The most recent pitch by a group at The Bostey was memorable because of the inspirational youth leader Steven, the group name "Not Just a Girl Thing" and the idea the group had put together. I particularly liked the fact that they wanted to include a parent/carer in the activity for 'one to one' time.”
Why The Key?
For Siobhan, The Key’s approach to empowering young people just makes sense: “The Key's vision and values are a perfect fit with my aspirations for young people.”
Siobhan got involved with The Key after a friend recommended the flexible volunteering opportunity that empowers young people. And we’re so glad she did – because volunteers like Siobhan help make the magic happen.
So, if you’re thinking about volunteering, take it from Siobhan: it’s a chance to grow, connect, and help young people realise just how powerful their ideas can be. You won’t just be supporting projects; you’ll be part of something truly inspiring.
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The Key