Meet our Volunteers: Layla

For Issue 32 some of our regular volunteers put colleague Layla Blackwell in the hot seat to find out more about why she volunteers with Clydesider.

John: Layla, you have been involved with volunteering at a few other groups. What do you find is different for you here at Clydesider that makes you want to be here?

Layla: When I got introduced to the Clydesider, I remember having a look at what they do and thinking that seems a bit more fitting for my existing skill set. I'd come away from writing, and thought I'd love to go back to writing, so I thought what a great opportunity to do that. They are very enthusiastic about their volunteers and very grateful for anything that we could offer them. It's the sort of organisation I want to give my time to. I genuinely feel like there was an opportunity to both use my point of view and my life experience in a way that would be beneficial for both me and anybody else who reads the articles. I think the fortunate thing is it has given me an outlet that has changed my life, but it's also given me a focus that will continue to change my life.

Patricia: How would you say that the Clydesider has changed your life?

Layla: I have lived here since I was 21. On and off in different parts of Clydebank, and I've been struggling to find my own niche and where I wanted to fit in. I wanted to find my own space and way of making a difference, in a way that wasn't going to drain me, because I do have some restrictions in terms of what I'm capable of doing. And when I got to Clydesiders, I didn't feel like I was having to adjust myself for situations. I’ve continually been offered opportunities to do new things, but in a way that is safe to do them. I suppose you can kind of call it safe adventuring. I can do something that's slightly outside what I think I’m capable of, but you can do it in a way that you know you're going to be able to do it. And psychologically, for me, that makes such a difference and knowing that, I have grown as a person through having these experiences. I can't tell you how much that means, and I can't put a price on that. It just gives me a safe place to know that I'm making a difference, and it lets me adventure in other ways that I didn't think were possible. So, it changed my entire future and I'm becoming a person I don't recognise, but in a good way.

Steven: Do you have a favourite article?

Layla: That's like Sophie's choice. To be honest, I love all of them just for the sheer experience of it. In this issue is an interview, which is the second interview I’ve ever done so I would say this one is probably my favourite. For just now. The experience of doing all my articles for different reasons has been its own reward. There's a beauty to writing for me, it takes away old barriers, so I get to say I'm good at something. I will always say yes to any opportunity I'm given here because I can, so yeah, this one's probably my favourite, but I'm looking forward to anything else I am assigned.

John: Do you feel part of a team?

Layla: Yes. I don't think it's even that. I mean, you can get included in teams all the time just by being on a list. Speaking as somebody who played sports, I can be on a team and never get played, and I'm still on the team, technically speaking. But I am part of this. I am literally a page in an issue, and without my page, that issue is shorter. I can see where I am and I can see what I’ve done.

Patricia: I think the value, as well as you seeing yourself on the page, is that so can other people. Other people can then go, ‘oh, maybe that is possible.’

Layla: Yes! I feel like the process of being honest about disability and about my life, people are getting answers to questions they didn't have to ask me. People are learning about aspects of disability and they're getting a realistic and honest way that it's neither positive nor negative. And it gives me the benefit of knowing that I've used my voice in a positive way, but it also gives me the benefit of knowing I've had an effect, even if somebody just reads one line and goes, I didn't think about that.

Patricia: You mentioned loving writing, do you feel like you are getting more creative?

Layla: I just have a confidence now that I didn't have before. I like knowing I've finished something, and it gives me an outlet, and it lets me see I've achieved something.

Steven: Do you find that the more personal articles are easier to write?

Layla: One of the first bits of advice you're ever kind of given when you start to write is write what you know about. Now, mistakenly, when I heard that, I thought it was going to be boring then because I thought, what do I know about? But what they basically mean is, and how it's worked for me, is see your life experience pop that down. That's what they meant, not if you've got a hobby. It's about taking my life experience and adapting it in a way that makes it more accessible for everybody.

Jenny: What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about volunteering?

Layla: Volunteer for someone who appreciates what you do. I think at the end of the day, if you're not being paid for your work, then you want somebody who's going to at least say thank you. But also, if you can manage, then volunteer somewhere you know that you're making a difference, do that.