While I was in Thailand last year, I had a spare afternoon and decided to use my volunteer leave to support a local elephant rescue sanctuary. It wasn’t something I had planned in advance, but it turned out to be a really memorable and worthwhile experience. The sanctuary was home to a small group of rescued elephants that had previously been working in tourism and on farms. The day involved helping with feeding, preparing and administering basic medicine, and supporting their general care. There was also the opportunity to help wash the elephants, which was a unique and enjoyable experience.
As part of the visit, I also learned how paper is made from elephant dung, and brought some back to share with a local primary school, which the children thought was 'cool'. It was a really rewarding way to spend the day and gave me a chance to contribute, even in a small way, to something meaningful.
I think having paid Volunteer Leave at Trinity is a great benefit. It reflects a genuine commitment to giving colleagues the time and space to contribute to causes that matter to them. What I particularly value is the flexibility of it. People are able to use their time in very different ways, whether that’s supporting local community projects, environmental initiatives like litter picks, or working with schools and charities. That range of activity really shows how embedded this is as part of Trinity’s culture, rather than a one-off initiative. Personally, I’m planning to use my volunteer leave this year to support a geography activity at a local primary school and also a SEND choir event, helping give children the opportunity to perform with a live orchestra.
Some advice for people looking to take Volunteer Leave is that I would say just take the opportunity. It doesn’t have to be something big or complicated, and it doesn’t need a huge amount of planning. Whether it’s something local or something you come across more spontaneously, like I did, the important thing is to do something that feels meaningful to you. Even a small amount of time can have a positive impact, and it’s always a worthwhile experience.
“Even a small amount of time can have a positive impact, and it’s always a worthwhile experience.”