"Volunteering gives me joy."

When Emeka started volunteering alongside his master’s degree, he was looking for a way to give back and do something meaningful beyond his day-to-day study. He already had six years’ experience in software development to draw on and through Reach, he found an ideal volunteering opportunity, something that was purpose-led and where his technical skills could make a lasting difference. Emeka’s role with Young Minds Matter was to help build the systems they needed to support young people and the experience gave him confidence, community, and a renewed sense of what his skills could achieve. Emeka explains:

“I started volunteering because I wanted to give back. It came from my lived experience, my values, and a desire to do something meaningful - something beyond myself, something I wouldn’t get paid for. I was studying for my master’s at the time, and a friend introduced me to Reach. I thought, why not use the software development skills I already had to make a difference?

“When I saw the opportunity with Young Minds Matter, it really resonated with me. They support children and young people with mental health challenges, and I knew this was something important. Like many charities, they had limited resources and needed help with their digital platform to support aspects of their work including mentoring, safeguarding and day-to-day operations. I had the technical skills they were looking for, so I applied.

“I started volunteering for just a few hours a week but this grew over time. My role was as a software developer and technical lead and I helped design and build systems that made it easier for the organisation to support young people in a structured, scalable  and more effective way. 

A supportive and collaborative environment

“It wasn’t always easy. Some parts were challenging, and I had to learn new skills along the way as resource was limited. But the environment was supportive and collaborative. No one was rushing you and you were trusted to figure things out and to grow into the role. That gave me confidence and built a kind of mental resilience I hadn’t experienced before.

“One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing the real impact, both on the charity and the people it supports. I attended a fundraising event where I met and heard the stories of young people whose lives had changed through the charity. Some had gone on to become doctors, others had achieved incredible things. That’s when it really hit me - the work we were doing behind the scenes was making a real difference to people’s lives.

“And it’s not just the impact on the charity, it’s also what you gain personally. There was a great sense of community and I received so much encouragement from people around me. During my job search, the team supported me, shared opportunities, and gave me recommendations. That played a part in where I am today as a software engineer.

Creating change through volunteering

“Volunteering has reinforced my belief that when you connect the right skills with the right opportunity, you can create real change. The impact goes beyond the work you carry out - it’s more about the lives you can touch and what you enable others to do.

“I’m still involved now, and I plan to continue volunteering. It’s something that gives me joy. It teaches patience, collaboration, and how to work with people in a meaningful way.

“If I could say one thing to someone thinking about volunteering, it would be this: start now. Don’t wait until you have more time. You don’t need to be perfect and you don’t always need to give a lot of time - sometimes just showing up and giving your thoughts and input is enough, especially for charities that are struggling for resource. You’ll learn, you’ll grow, and you’ll realise there’s a different kind of satisfaction that comes from giving your skills to something that really matters. For me, there is more joy in giving than receiving. And through volunteering, you get to experience that in a way that stays with you.”