Achieving Potential in everything we do
Meet Kerry Jackson who was given the opportunity to turn model for the day when she joined forces with Kirklees Council to help promote Volunteers’ Week.
Kerry has Asperger Syndrome and is supported by SLC Paragon to live independently in a shared supported living tenancy in Huddersfield. Kerry is involved with the Gateway Volunteering Project and currently volunteers at 'Café Jaxx' in Huddersfield’s Brian Jackson Centre.
The Gateway Volunteering Project provides information and support in exploring volunteering opportunities in adult health and social care in Kirklees. It supports people who want to volunteer but may need extra support to do so. The project helped Kerry to find something that matched her skills. Catherine, Gateway Volunteer Coordinator, said: "When Kerry visited the volunteer drop in at Gateway to care she was a very shy individual who had a desire to volunteer in a cafe environment. Kerry helps with baking and preparing food which has enabled her to gain confidence and develop new skills."
Volunteering has allowed Kerry's confidence to grow; she chats to customers and works alongside her colleagues in running the café. Kerry says: “I enjoy my volunteering. I prepare the meals and do different things. I work there every Tuesday. The best bit is making the meals for the children who come in.”
Dale is the head chef at Café Jaxx, he says: "It is a pleasure to have Kerry around. Kerry decides what she wants to make a week in advance which gives her something to look forward to and talk about with her friends."
After the success of her volunteering placement Kirklees Council asked Kerry to take part in a photo shoot to promote Volunteers’ Week 2009.
Tom Clegg, Marketing and Communications Officer at Kirklees Council explains: “Volunteers' Week plays a huge part in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to their communities, while inspiring others to get involved too. Here in Kirklees a number of events and activities took place to recognise, reward and recruit volunteers. Kerry took part in a photo shoot to help us promote this and had a really good time.”
Kerry is delighted with the finished photographs and was certainly shocked when she took a trip into Huddersfield and spotted a giant poster of herself in the centre of town. “It was a big poster!” laughs Kerry. “I had lots of fun. I enjoyed the whole day and am really pleased with the photographs.”
- Kerry recently entered the SLC Group Art competition 2009 where she won first prize for her watercolour painting “The Apple Tree.” Read the full story here.
