After a long break today we welcome back the Newquay Community Orchard blog!! For this first instalment we wanted to introduce Harry, one of our amazing volunteers, who will be bringing you stories from the Orchard. . .
Hi folks, I’m Harry and for this first post I thought I would tell you about my Newquay Community Orchard journey so far….
I started volunteering with Newquay Community Orchard in the later part of 2018. I had heard about the Orchard by word of mouth, but due to suffering from social anxiety and depression, it took me a long time to build up the courage to take myself down there and see what it was all about.
Once I finally made contact, and had my induction meeting, I instantly felt welcomed into the Orchards friendly community of volunteers and staff. As is usually the case with this whole anxiety thing I immediately forgot any of the previous concerns I had about how I may be perceived whilst meeting my new co-workers.
Not long after starting my voluntary work, I noticed a positive shift in my overall outlook. Being outside, working in the grow space, doing different bits of physical labour around the Orchards numerous habitats has had a profound positive effect on my self-confidence and my health, both mentally and physically. My fellow volunteers and staff members have all made me feel welcome and at home.
I have recently completed an Entry Level 3 in Practical Outdoor Skills and Employability and am now enjoying studying a Level 1 in Practical Outdoor Skills and Employability. So not only has the Orchard helped me with my own personal issues regarding confidence and anxiety, but also my employability, as I am now working towards having a certificate / qualification that will be added to my c.v. Thus, gaining knowledge in an area that was a year ago completely alien to me.
Alongside all the positive things I’ve gained from my short time at Newquay Orchard, I will also now to be contributing to writing the Orchard Blog, which I’m looking forward to. I have previously studied a Journalism NCTJ course, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but was not able to follow up with due to some of the personal issues already mentioned. Working on the blog, in addition to my volunteer work, and Level 1 course, will help get me back into the swing of things, regarding writing for publication.
Moving forward, being able to be creative, coming up with new ideas and thinking of different material that will be incorporated into the blog is yet another positive addition to my personal journey that the Orchard is helping me to achieve.
Harry – Orchard Blogger/Volunteer.
Watch this space for more from Harry. He’ll be talking to you about our orchard team, orchard events, new projects and developments.
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