Why I volunteer with Nacoa
I first came across Nacoa about ten years ago, and was amazed to discover that a charity existed that supported and advocated for people like me.
My dad, who I lived with until I was sixteen, is an alcoholic, and that experience has had a profound impact on my life.
As soon as I heard about Nacoa I immediately knew that I wanted to get involved in some capacity, but I didn’t feel quite ready at the time.
Taking the plunge
Earlier this year I decided it was finally time to take the plunge. I enquired about volunteering opportunities and was quickly booked onto Nacoa’s volunteer training programme, which I attended over seven online sessions in January-March.
The training was really thorough and engaging, and it was brilliant getting to know Nacoa staff and other prospective and current volunteers.
While there was never any pressure to disclose, myself and many others chose to share our personal experience of parental alcoholism, which really helped me to feel seen and understood.
I finished the programme feeling well equipped and supported to begin taking on volunteering opportunities.
I didn’t know about Nacoa when I was younger, and I wish I had – being able to share that information now feels really powerful.
Lauren, Nacoa volunteer
How I’ve supported Nacoa
Since then, I have been involved in Nacoa in a number of ways, including:
- Speaking at an event for the HMPPS ThinkChild campaign along with two other volunteers, where we shared our experiences of growing up with a parent who drinks. This event was attended by over 180 professionals working with families, and many shared feedback saying that hearing our testimony helped them better understand the experience of children of alcoholics.
- Visiting three youth groups at SAYiT to talk to young people aged 11-25 about Nacoa and the services and support that we offer. I had some really great conversations with the young people who attended and shared some resources with the centre.
- Giving a talk about Nacoa to staff at Grimm & Co in Rotherham, sharing ways that professionals can better support children of alcoholics and how Nacoa can help.
- Taking part in an academic research study focusing on experiences of personal growth among adults who grew up with a parent with alcohol use disorder.
- Signing up to take part in a charity walk for Nacoa in the Peak District this October!
I heard about the ThinkChild, research study and charity walk opportunities through emails from Nacoa, and organised the SAYiT and Grimm & Co visits by reaching out myself via email.
Across all of these events I received loads of support and guidance from Nacoa staff, which really helped to improve my confidence.
Everything volunteers do counts
There’s never any pressure to take on more than you feel like you’re ready for – as a volunteer, you’re welcome to do as much or as little as you like, and everything you do counts.
In volunteering for Nacoa, my main hope was to be able to get the word out about their brilliant services to as many people as possible, and hopefully to reach people who might need that support.
I didn’t know about Nacoa when I was younger, and I wish I had – being able to share that information now feels really powerful.
Volunteering with Nacoa has already been such a rewarding experience for me, and I’d really encourage anyone considering it to complete an application form and have a chat about how you could get involved.
Nacoa volunteers contribute to the charity and its work in all sort of ways – staffing the helpline, fundraising, giving talks, sharing personal experiences on the website, participating in research, and much more. There really is something for everyone!
Lauren
If you’re interested in volunteering with Nacoa, find out more about our roles and how to apply.
