News

Helping people take their next step towards work 

17 June 2026

Since we last featured Nicholas, his volunteering role has evolved, but his commitment to supporting people into employment remains the same

When we first spoke to Nicholas in 2024, he had already spent years volunteering with Thames Reach, using his lived experience and skills to support people rebuilding their confidence and moving towards employment. 

Nearly two years later, Nicholas is still volunteering, but his role has evolved alongside the changing needs of the people Thames Reach supports. 

Today, he volunteers with the Southwark Works Employment Support service, helping people with mental health challenges take practical steps towards returning to work. 

Adapting to change 

Over the years, Nicholas has supported several employment-focused services at Thames Reach, from Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to in-work progression projects and, most recently, employment support for people with mental health needs. 

Reflecting on that journey, he says: “There’s been quite a lot of change since then within the organisation.” 

While services have evolved, Nicholas has remained committed to supporting people on their journey towards greater independence and stability. 

For him, employment support is about much more than helping someone find a job. 

“When I started volunteering with Thames Reach, it had grown so much from how it originally started as a frontline service,” he says. “There came a realisation that actually, how do you help people to maintain their tenancy? How do we help them integrate back into society and learn valuable life skills so that they can pick up their lives again once they’ve got secure accommodation?” 

Volunteering from Yorkshire 

One of the biggest changes in Nicholas’s volunteering journey has been where he volunteers from. 

Having moved to Yorkshire almost five years ago, he now supports people remotely, demonstrating how volunteering can adapt to people’s circumstances while still making a meaningful difference. 

“Since COVID, there’s a lot of remote information and support that’s available that wasn’t available in that way before,” he says. “That’s absolutely great for people on a limited income or people who are struggling with mental health barriers.” 

Nicholas sees similar benefits in remote volunteering and support services, helping remove barriers for people who may otherwise struggle to access opportunities. 

Supporting people back into employment 

In his current role, Nicholas works one-to-one with people who are ready to begin thinking about employment again after a period away from work. 

The support starts with understanding each person’s goals and helping them create a realistic plan to achieve them. 

“We start to get an idea of what it is that they want to do,” he explains. “Their long-term goal, but then short-term and medium-term goals to get to that long-term goal.” 

From there, support can include CV development, interview preparation, identifying training opportunities and exploring volunteering as a stepping stone towards employment. 

Many of the people Nicholas works with have experienced long periods of isolation or poor mental health, making confidence-building an important part of the process. 

“There’s people who’ve never really broken out of that,” he says. “They’ve stayed in this isolation and lost confidence as well.” 

Celebrating success 

Despite the challenges many people face, Nicholas says the role remains incredibly rewarding. 

Recently, one of the people he had been supporting attended an employment event organised through the Employment Academy. Shortly afterwards, she secured a job. 

“I was really pleased because she’d really worked very hard,” Nicholas says. “She’d booked in for loads of volunteering at different organisations.” 

The news arrived just before what would have been their final session together. 

“I got a message saying, ‘Really sorry, I’m not going to be able to make the session because I’ve been given the job that I applied for.'” 

For Nicholas, moments like these are a reminder of why he continues volunteering after more than eight years. 

“I’ve been enjoying the clients that I’ve been working with,” he says. “It’s been quite rewarding.” 

Interested in volunteering with Thames Reach? 

Volunteers play a vital role across Thames Reach services, supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to build confidence, develop skills and move towards their goals. Click here to see our current opportunities. 

Whether you’re looking to gain experience, use your skills to help others or make a difference in your community, there are a range of opportunities to get involved.