Case study: Nadia Hulkhory
Name: Nadia Hulkhory
Internship year: Autumn 2009
Internship team/department: UK Events, Fundraising
Q. Why did you want to volunteer with Barnardo's?
I had done a lot of fundraising at University, so for me it was a natural progression to get some experience and build skills in a national charity organisation, to see if it was right for me as a career path. I wanted to work for an amazing cause, and although I knew Barnardo’s was a leading children’s charity, it was only once I was there that I actually realised the impact it makes on thousands of children’s lives across the UK.
Q. What were your key responsibilities as a volunteer intern?
Working in events, there were no key responsibilities, as with each new event comes different tasks that need to be completed. Nothing can go wrong (or at least the guests at the event can’t know that) so responsibilities vary from researching the viability of an event, its competition, budgeting it and putting together a risk plan, to liaising with venues, celebrities and people that could assist the fruition of the event to running the event, managing volunteers and constantly being on your guard to make sure that if something go wrongs you can instantly fix it!
Q. How did you benefit from being a volunteer intern at Barnardo's?
After Barnardo’s I feel I came across more employable, and got a paid job! More specifically though, I developed an ability to confidently manage people. At events, I had to manage children, volunteers and work with diverse teams, and really became aware of how to adapt myself to different situations.
Aside from developing my skill set, the interns really do become a little family, or a big one in our case going to lunch with 17 people! It was these lovely, amazing people that kept me coming back in every day, supported me whenever things got hard, threw me a birthday party and I am very happy to call them my friends.
Q. Who would you recommend Barnardo's Volunteer internship scheme to?
Mainly to recently graduates, but anyone really, post A level or GCSE or anyone looking for a new career direction.
Q. Tips for future interns?
Give everything your all!