Adrian Atterby, Senior Client Consultant at Euromonitor, tells us about how the Samuel Rhodes mentoring programme is both a great opportunity to make positive change and a learning opportunity for himself. Read about this activity that became Adrian’s favourite time of the week and why you should get involved too.

Why do you volunteer?
I actually joined the Samuel Rhodes programme part way through. I saw some of the mentors and students working together and wanted to learn more about what was involved. It seemed like such a positive way to have a positive impact on the local community but also seemed like a great learning opportunity for me.

The best thing about being involved with the programme was the students. Everyone I worked with was so keen to get involved and contribute. Working with the students also helped me to think about how I communicate, and that adopting a different style in different situations really can bring positive results.

What have you gained from your volunteering experience?
I believe that I’ve achieved two things as a result of being involved with the programme. Firstly I hope I’ve helped the students, even in the smallest of ways, to maybe build their confidence or understand the world of work. Secondly, they helped me to change how I view situations, to not prejudge people and to think about how I communicate with others. The programme is definitely a two-way learning process.

Would you recommend volunteering to a colleague and, if so, why?
Quite simply – get involved! It was such a great experience and will it quickly become your favourite part of the week! Just be prepared to drink a lot of hot chocolate!