“As a PhD student, I work by myself, mostly from home – it's a very lonely experience. I started volunteering with Myplace because I simply wanted an excuse to get out of the house each week and talking to people. But the ecotherapy nature of Myplace has meant it's turned into something far more than that.

Myplace is a time each week when everyone involved – the participants, organisers, and volunteers – get to switch off from day-to-day worries, get outside, work together and have fun. I come away each week feeling refreshed.

“I've recently been offered a new job with the charity Guide Dogs, which is why I can no longer volunteer with Myplace. I think my experiences with Myplace helped me in my application for this job, which I'm grateful for. I was able to talk about my volunteering at my interview, discussing how it's improved my communication and teamwork skills.

“Even though I'm leaving, there have been lots of great moments that I'll take with me. I've learnt so many new skills (know what a post driver is? I didn't either, but I can now use one!), and it's been wonderful to see just how much the participants develop. One thing that's taken me by surprise is just how much I've enjoyed working with Jenny and Carrie, the staff members that run the Preston Myplace sessions. They're absolutely lovely – at no point have they made me feel like 'just' a volunteer. They've consistently asked for and valued my opinions, let me design and run activities during the sessions and been very understanding of my other life commitments.”