Volunteers gain real 'life experience'

HAPPY TO HELP: Ben Ordish takes the Wednesday duty.

Volunteering at the Wairarapa Resource Centre is something of a family tradition for the Ordish family.

Callum Ordish, 16, volunteers his time every Friday during the school holidays at the King St charity, which sells bric-a-brac, books, machinery and second-hand items donated from the public.

His other brother Ben works on Wednesdays, with the pair following on from their older brother Andrew, who has used the skills gained at the resource centre to obtain a full-time job.

Manager Trudie Jones said Callum's mother had told her the centre had done so well for Andrew. "Callum has been amazing for us," she said.

Callum, a Wairarapa College student, said his parents said he should give it a go.

His duties include dismantling items and organising the hundreds of items the store handles.

He believes it will give him "life experience".

The resource centre provides volunteers with retail experience skills, particularly those who are long-term unemployed or have limited English language skills.

Ms Jones said a recent volunteer, who arrived with limited English, built up the confidence and skills to go for her first job interview.

"Another person, he's gone from no confidence, unemployed, to being fully employed."