Three reasons why I loved working for COMMuniTY Chesterfield

For those of you who have no clue of who I am, I worked as an Impact Measuring and Evaluation Intern for the COMMuniTY Chesterfield project.  My journey began when two of the sweetest souls, Alison and Charlotte, thought I was fit for the role. Honestly, I have no idea what they were thinking!  Anyway, I truly believed that it was a wonderful opportunity not to be missed, and I instantly said yes - it was a match made in heaven.

While working for the project, I was provided with lots of opportunities for my personal and professional growth for which I am forever grateful.

But above all, I would like to share the three most important reasons for why I enjoyed working for the project:

1. There is no doubt that the team I was a part of consisted of some brilliant minds with so much positivity and passion to help others. I immediately felt a part of it! I was warmly welcomed and included in the group discussions which made me more confident and motivated to give my best. They were all very supportive and helpful to guide me and provide me with the relevant documents and information to carry out the tasks successfully.

2. While working, I have learnt a lot from my team members but most of all, I would like to acknowledge the valuable time and efforts of my managers, Charlotte and Viv. Despite her busy schedule, Viv gave me one to one training sessions that have not only helped me in the feedback gathering process but also further developed my research skills. Likewise, Charlotte's weekly catch-up meetings allowed me to reflect and update her on my progress, while working together to overcome any challenges.

3. One of the main reasons I took this role and enjoyed it thoroughly was that it gave me an opportunity to interact with people from different voluntary organisations affiliated with the project. While interviewing them, I learnt a lot about their work and it was rewarding to learn that the project has had a positive influence on them both personally and professionally.

I am very grateful for the team at Derbyshire Voluntary Action and my alma mater, University of Derby, for the support I needed to be a part of a brilliant collaborative community-based project.