From Volunteer to Employment Manager: Gbemi’s Story
To mark Volunteers’ Week 2026, we spoke with our Employment Manager, Gbemi, who first joined Pecan as a volunteer 12 years ago.
I first started volunteering in reception three mornings a week.
Why did you choose to volunteer with Pecan?
“I already knew about Pecan because they were local, and our church supported the charity. At the time, I had stopped working to focus on my Theology and Counselling degree, but I still wanted to stay active and connected to the community, so I reached out to volunteer.”
What do you feel you’ve taken away from volunteering at Pecan?
“Volunteering gave me the opportunity to support my community while completing my degree. I first started volunteering in reception three mornings a week and then moved into supporting the foodbank with packing, weighing and administration. This was a natural shift because I welcomed people coming into reception for food parcels, so I was gaining an understanding of people accessing the service and how it worked.
After finishing my degree, I was encouraged to apply for a case worker role in Employment Support. I didn’t get it the first time because I needed an IAG qualification, so I went away and completed my Level 3 qualification. When another role came up, I applied again and was successful. Since then, I’ve progressed from case worker to lead case worker, and now employment manager.”
Tell us about your role today
This year, 90% of clients who found work through our programmes have sustained their jobs with ongoing support from our Employment Advisers.
Employment team: L to R – Mark, Jesana, Semere, Sharon, Shemiah, Ijeoma and Paula
“I really enjoy my role and the team I work with. Everyone is dedicated to making a difference for the people who come through our doors. We support clients through casework, training, volunteering and coaching, and because Pecan’s services are so connected, we can often help people access wider support too.
This year, 90% of clients who found work through our programmes have sustained their jobs with ongoing support from our Employment Advisers. We’ve also seen excellent completion rates across our training programmes.
I’d absolutely recommend volunteering – it’s a chance to build skills, meet people and make a real difference in your chosen area of interest or community.”
Employment Opportunity
Find out more about our Employment Opportunity service: https://www.pecan.org.uk/employment-support/
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