The more you give, the more you gain

Taking our Manchester Leadership Programme was a great opportunity for BSc Midwifery student Daisy Tudor to incorporate volunteering experience into her hectic degree. By volunteering with Incredible Edible, Daisy has gained much more than gardening skills.

Why did you start volunteering?

Midwifery is so immersive that it can take over your life a bit. I knew I wanted to do something else, and Incredible Edible has a strong link with public health. During my placements I often receive feedback from women highlighting that they find fruit and vegetables expensive. Government schemes exist for certain women for fresh fruit and vegetables – but isn’t it better to have free fruit and vegetables growing on your doorstep?

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

I’ve met students from completely different degrees as well as different countries like Malaysia, China, Singapore; learning more about different people and cultures has been so exciting and enriching.

We work with the community too: people in Fallowfield who pop out of houses, don a T-shirt and come to help. It’s good for them to see students doing something positive for the community – and it’s great for my communication skills to work with so many different people.

How has volunteering helped with your career development?

Midwifery is all about leadership, communication and teamwork, which I do all the time in my volunteering. I never thought that signing up to plant bulbs would give me skills in marketing, but I’ve just produced my first promotional video for Incredible Edible, which was a big learning curve.

Do you feel like you make a difference with your volunteering?

Making sites that aren’t well cared for into pretty and useful areas can really improve community morale. People respond really positively. It feels great to be making a difference. There’s lots of students around here too, so it’s good to have lots of healthy, free food on your doorstep.

What are the volunteering opportunities like at Manchester?

A lot of people may say they don't have time to volunteer, but there are so many different opportunities available at Manchester that you can always find something to fit around your schedule. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s really addictive, volunteering – and it’s really, really good fun.