Being part of something that matters

After a long international career in education leadership, Graham returned to the UK with a strong belief in the importance of community and giving back - values shaped by years working across Asia, where collective responsibility and contribution are deeply embedded in everyday life. Looking for a way to stay connected to people and purpose, he first explored school governance, but found it lacked the human connection he was seeking. Through Reach, he found a different path - volunteering with Breaking Barriers, where he now supports refugees and migrants to build confidence, navigate job searches, and take their next steps. His story shows how professional skills, combined with empathy and lived experience, can unlock potential, rebuild confidence, and create meaningful change.

“I spent much of my career working in schools overseas, particularly in Asia, where there’s a strong sense of community and collective responsibility. You’re part of something bigger - people look out for each other, and there’s an expectation that you contribute.

“When I came back to the UK, I think I really felt the absence of that. It’s not that people don’t care - but community can feel harder to find, more fragmented. And after finishing my career as a headteacher, I realised I’d lost something important. It wasn’t the job itself - it was the sense of belonging, of being around people, of doing something that mattered day to day.

“At first, I thought I’d give back in a way that made sense on paper and I took on school governor roles. Given my background, it seemed like the obvious fit. But the reality was quite different. It felt removed from people, very process-driven, and I didn’t feel I was making a meaningful difference on a human level. So I stepped back and decided to find something more connected, more personal.

“And through Reach I joined Breaking Barriers.

Helping people take the next step

“What I’ve found is that skills-based volunteering gives you a way to use everything you’ve built over a lifetime - not in theory, but in a very real, practical way. I spend time supporting refugees and migrants with job applications, interview preparation, and confidence building. But really, it’s about people - helping someone feel more able to take the next step.

“Many of the people I meet are highly skilled, highly educated, and incredibly capable - but they’ve had their confidence knocked. They’ve been through a lot to get here, and by the time they arrive, they’re often exhausted and unsure how to start again.

“Something as simple as one conversation can make a difference. You see people begin to open up, to find their voice, to feel a bit more confident in what they can offer. And sometimes it’s not just about the practical help - it’s about being listened to, being taken seriously, and feeling that someone believes in you.

“I’ve learned a lot myself along the way. You’re working across cultures, across different ways of thinking, and you have to adapt. It’s made me reflect on how confidence works, how people communicate, and what support really looks like in practice.

Re-discovering a sense of belonging

“One of the biggest things for me has been rediscovering that sense of belonging. Volunteering gives you that. You walk into a space and people know you, they’re pleased to see you, you’re part of something again. That’s powerful - and I think it’s something many people don’t realise they’re missing until it’s gone.

“And it works both ways. You’re giving your time and your experience, but you get a great deal back. You meet people you would never otherwise meet. You hear stories that stay with you. You’re reminded of both the challenges people face and the potential they have.

“The impact can sometimes feel hard to measure, because you don’t always see what happens next. But you know you’ve helped someone take a step forward - and those steps matter. They build confidence, they create momentum, and over time they change what’s possible.

“What stands out to me is how much untapped potential there is. People who could contribute so much are being overlooked. And that’s where this kind of volunteering really matters - it helps unlock that potential, not just for individuals, but for society as a whole.

“If I was encouraging someone else to get involved, I’d say don’t wait until you feel perfectly prepared. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing at the start. You learn as you go. What matters is that you’re willing to show up, to listen, and to use your experience to help someone else move forward.

“And I’d also say - think about what comes next in your own life. When work ends, you lose more than a job. Volunteering is a way to rebuild that sense of purpose and connection. It gives you somewhere to belong again.

“For me, that’s what keeps me doing it. It’s not just about giving back - it’s about being part of something that matters.”