I did my work experience with the Bristol City Mission Service, who run a project called The Matthew Tree Project. They provide necessities (eg, food and toiletries) to those in need, a little like a food bank. However, unlike a food bank they also provide support and some signposting; sort of empowering people to do what they can to better their situation.
Highlights of my week? Well, in terms of actual good stuff, I enjoyed Friday, which is the day the clients are in and having their support interviews/collecting food. It sounds weird, but I also enjoyed helping to organise the food- it was methodical, which I like, and it just felt helpful! Plus any time I was chatting to people in general. I feel like I should include the weirder highlights as well- namely, the massive amounts of cucumber, cauliflower and melons, and the jokes that followed those!
I really really enjoyed my time at TMTP; I met some really really lovely people, and I hope to keep in contact and to continue working with them as a volunteer. The work they do is so important!! I've learnt some really valuable lessons this week and had some really fab experiences. Yay for TMTP!! (Special thanks to KV, the main person I worked with, who went out of his way to make my time interesting and informative and was generally amazing, and CF, another fab person working for TMTP who has a great enthusiasm for fresh veg!)