Seeing the bigger picture through volunteering: Diana’s story
5 June 2025
Volunteering at Deptford Reach has deepened Diana’s understanding of homelessness—and her desire to keep making a difference
Diana started volunteering with Deptford Reach, a community-based service that supports people affected by or at risk of homelessness, during her university placement. What began as a short-term requirement quickly turned into something much more meaningful.
“I’ve been in service for just a little over a year,” Diana says. “I started through a placement when I was at uni, and that’s where the journey began. It has been brilliant.”
She now volunteers mainly at the food bank, helping people navigate issues related to housing, benefits, and council tax, and signposting those with more complex needs—such as immigration issues—to the right services.
“I support people in different areas,” she explains. “Where we can’t help directly, we point them to the relevant organisations. Whatever I can do, I just have a passion for giving support to those who need it.”
Having completed a BA in Social and Community Development, Diana says her time at Deptford Reach has also helped her academic growth. “There was a module that touched on providing different kinds of support for different age groups and backgrounds. So yes, volunteering really helped me.”
For Diana, the biggest reward is the human connection.
“I enjoy meeting different people from different backgrounds and hearing their stories,” she says. “It’s an adventure. You learn so much and really start to understand homelessness.”
“Some people think homelessness is just about drugs or alcohol, but it’s not. Homelessness can reach anyone.”
Although Diana has finished her degree, she continues to volunteer, hoping it might eventually lead to a role within the homelessness sector. “I would like to keep doing what I do best.”
When asked what advice she’d give to someone considering volunteering, her answer is clear: “You’ll get to learn more, meet different people, and see the bigger picture. It opens your eyes.”
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with us, click here.