Spotlight on: James – Doorstep Library

James has been a Dot Dot Dot guardian for just over a year, and so far has dedicated over 260 hours – the equivalent of a full month of work – to help create positive change in communities in London. It’s a great contribution to the huge milestone our guardian’s have reached of over 160,000 hours of volunteering, the equivalent of 100 years of full-time work given to charities and community groups in just 7 years.

Since becoming a Dot Dot Dot guardian, James’ idea of volunteering has significantly shifted – he’s seen first-hand how it can create worthwhile and sustainable changes in communities, and also to his own life. “I’ve realised the liberty that volunteering gives you. It’s liberating to wake up in the morning and have the choice about how you’d like to spend your spare time, and to be able to use it positively to do something valuable in the community”.

James volunteers with various charitable organisations, including Doorstep Library, who aim to address the lack of literary resources available to economically disadvantaged families. Their volunteers’ collectively visit over 500 children to empower youth through literacy. As part of his volunteering James visits one boy each week to help him with his reading skills. “He’s become a really good reader – it’s been great building up a relationship with him and his family”.

James’ way of thinking about the many positives that volunteering can encompass is encouraging for anyone looking to step out of their comfort zone. By challenging his own preconceptions about volunteering, James now clearly recognises the rewards of seeing others doing things, not for the benefit of money but for the betterment of others and to make the world a better place.

If you’d like to get involved with Doorstep Library find out more here.

Read about 100 years of volunteering and more of our guardians’ volunteering stories here.