“My relationship with the Selby Centre is great. I Joined the Green Outreach Project in April and I found the work really enjoyable - I learned a lot and was surprised to be invited to a special celebration for my input as a volunteer at the end of the project.”
Orean joined the Selby Trust in April 2013 as part of a Green Outreach Project run in partnership with Haringey Council and the 40:20 Initiative, raising awareness of free Home Energy Assessments with local people and groups across Haringey.
As a warm and outgoing individual who has continued to support the Selby Trust by volunteering, she is now training to become a Volunteer Community Organiser and has really grown in confidence in her own skills and experience for work. In September, Orean has gone even further – joining the Sea Cadets as a volunteer mentor.
“The Selby Centre has really helped- I’ve gained support for looking for work but have mostly grown in confidence through learning about the Community Organisers and getting involved in the local area.”
Local resident Orean began as a volunteer at the Selby Centre in April after hearing about a project running in partnership with Haringey Council. Confident and keen to learn, she led a key part in the final months of the 40:20 Home Energy Check Up campaign to engage local people with the advantages of a free home energy assessment to save on fuel bills.
Through learning about the importance of saving energy and the types of home changes available to make a difference, Orean soon started to lead conversations with the public and local groups to promote the assessments through Haringey’s 40:20 initiatives for improving the local environment and reducing waste.
In May 2013, she was the first volunteer to successfully gain a referral for a home energy assessment by door-knocking in Seven Sisters – directly helping local residents to reduce their energy use and learn more about retrofitting to combat fuel poverty.
In June 2013, Orean continued her role as a hard working volunteer by joining community organiser Stephanie, learning how to engage local people with change and build on neighbourhood networks as part of Locality’s Community Organisers Programme run for the second year in partnership with the Selby Trust.
Suited to her interests in helping others and caring attitude, Orean has really enjoyed the role and says that she has learned a lot – including an introduction to Locality’s Root Solutions Listening Matters training framework. Through door knocking, meetings and research, Orean has grown in confidence too – learning key skills for work and life through the Selby Centre.
Regularly taking part in Selby Trust activities, Orean is now applying for a role in the new Tottenham Sainsbury’s, helping others with workshops on how to apply and prepare for interviews. Half Scottish and Jamaican, Orean has an older brother and a sister and is most proud of her daughter Meia, who recently turned 2 years old.
In her spare time, Orean enjoys singing and often writes lyrics. As well as modelling, she is active in a variety of sports and loves to shop in Tottenham with her family and friends. In September, Orean’s made a new splash – joining the Sea Cadets volunteer programme based at New River Sports Centre near White Hart Lane. We wish her luck… but she’ll be remain a part of our team, too.
As we continue to grow in 2013, we are constantly looking for ways to reward those who are such an important part of our work and offer a variety of work and volunteering placements for local people who lie at the heart of our motto ‘Many Cultures, One Community’. If you are interested in finding work or volunteering at the Selby Centre please contact James at James@selbytrust.co.uk The Selby Trust was registered as a charity in 1992 by local people who recognised the need for a multi-purpose centre led by the community and third sector organisations. Many staff are local individuals who have given their time to make the Selby Centre a vibrant and inclusive space for everyone.
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