I work as a software engineer at Kainos Software in Belfast and have done since I graduated in 2006. I have also been a volunteer at Carrickfergus Junior Gateway Club since 1997.

Gateway is a Mencap affiliated youth club for children with learning disabilities based in Carrickfergus, County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its aim is to provide an environment that allows all children with learning disabilities to come together and meet with their peers, interacting and learning about themselves and the community around them.

I got involved with Gateway when I was fifteen and saw a poster in school advertising the club, placed there by a teacher whose son attended the club. My friend and I decided to go along and try it out to see what volunteering involved. At the start we mainly observed and after a month my friend decided that the club wasn't for her and left. I found myself unsure if I wanted to continue on alone but when most of the members were still asking for my friend even though we hadn't really gotten involved I decided to stay on. I can say with confidence that it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made as after ten years volunteering with the club I am still there.

At first I mainly stayed in the club's art room and started attending various youth courses within the club including group training weekends away with the other leaders. In 2007 I gained my OCN in Youth Work certificate which allowed me to take over as Leader in Charge. Now I'm organising the day to day running of the club, making sure that the members are enjoying themselves and ensuring that the other volunteers have access to relevant training.

Personally I have gained a lot through volunteering with Gateway. I was offered the opportunity to take part in a youth exchange to South Africa, I have spoken at a Mencap conference and am now on the committees of both Carrickfergus Mencap as well as Carrickfergus Citizens Advice.

Gateway runs for about three hours on a Saturday morning so it fits in well with the rest of my week at work and the opportunity to do something completely removed from my day job gives me a chance to unwind after a busy week. The other volunteers at the club have also become great friends over the years and give us a very close bond. I would recommend volunteering to anyone even if they feel they cannot commit a huge amount of time. It's incredible what even a few hours a week can achieve.