This week’s blog is written by Robyn Beckett, who recently volunteered at Beacon!
Read more about Robyn’s experience and her advice for future volunteers.
Hiya, I am Robyn Beckett, and I am a student at Royal Holloway, University of London.
I am entering my third year, and I am studying towards a BSc Biology degree.
I have always been interested in the intersection of science with social work, so volunteering for Beacon and learning more about this was great!
How did you hear about Beacon?
I heard about Beacon from my University’s career service. I was a part of the University’s summer skills programme which involved workshops to improve my CV and other ways to improve my employability.
The programme ends with doing a summer placement. This was where I discovered Beacon and wanted to apply to volunteer!
Why did you choose to volunteer with Beacon?
I was drawn to volunteer with Beacon as I had learnt about rare diseases whilst volunteering at a University event.
I thought that volunteering with Beacon would be a great way to get involved and learn more about the challenges that those with rare diseases face.
What has been the highlight of volunteering with us?
I loved being able to write something that will benefit the rare disease community.
I have always loved writing so getting to use my skills in combination with my experience of peer support was really rewarding!
What have you learnt about rare diseases and rare disease patient groups?
I learnt the extent of the divide between the number of people affected by rare diseases and the number of treatments available.
I also learnt about drug repurposing and how important this is for future treatment of rare disease. I also realised how much of the current research is propelled by rare disease patient groups and their commitment to improving things for their communities.
What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering with Beacon?
My advice is not to hesitate.
Volunteering with Beacon is very valuable and gives you a real opportunity to make a difference.
As long as you have a good work ethic and enthusiasm to help the community, you will get a lot out of volunteering and have an amazing time whilst doing so!
Thank you for reading this blog about Robyn’s experience as one of our volunteers.
The online course that Robyn worked on will be coming soon, so keep an eye out for them on our Resources Hub!
Find out more about how you can volunteer for us below.
