I started volunteering when I was in school, except I didn't know that was what it was until a lot later. Guides was fun, and helping the Brownies do tie dyeing and play stuck-in-the-mud was also fun, there wasn't much more to it for me at the time.

Somewhere between then and now, volunteering became my career. It's weird how the world works.

I have volunteered and/or worked for some of the biggest names in the sector (in no particular order, BTCV, The National Trust, The Scout Association, Groundwork, Oxfam, and of course Girlguiding UK) and I've been involved in many small, informal community projects and an awful lot of other things in between.

I've seen the best and the worst of what can happen in volunteering. I have had genuine, life-changing moments, but I have also been driven almost to the point of ill health because of bad volunteering experiences.

I want to make sure that volunteers have more of those life-changing moments and none of the bad experiences.

It's a massive battle, that good vounteer managers are fighting all the time. I think we might be winning.

Currently I work at Diabetes UK as a Volunteer Engagement Officer (and I make no secret that I think Diabetes UK volunteers are some of the best volunteers ever) and I volunteer for the brilliant Thames Discovery Programme which is completely different to my day job and keeps my inner archaeology geek very happy.