Maria Reguera, Employee Volunteering Co-ordinator (Making a Link)

Department: Community Investment Unit, London

What do you do in your position at MHP?

I am in charge of co-ordinating Making a Link, a pilot programme in London which promotes employee volunteering. In my role I support MHP’s businesses to identify and create volunteering opportunities that will benefit our residents and service users. I then publicise them and encourage staff to volunteer to facilitate the activities.

We have organised team challenges where staff from different departments come together to do a gardening makeover or create an allotment in our sheltered schemes. Staff volunteers have also helped out at sporting activities or at the local job fairs we organise with partner organisations.

Staff benefit by developing different skills, meeting new people and gaining a better understanding of the communities we serve. Similarly, our residents and service users benefit from our support in creating strong and sustainable communities in their neighbourhoods.

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in Bilbao, in northern Spain, but my family now live in Madrid. After 7 years living in London it still amazes me that my ‘hello’ is immediately answered with an ‘hola’ by everyone new I meet. It must be my accent!

My background is in biology. However, after a PhD and two years’ research at University College London, I realised that I related better to people than to Malaysian stalk-eyed flies, so I began developing my interest in volunteering.

I joined MHP in August 2006, after working as a volunteer and volunteer manager for several organisations across London.

Why did you choose to work for MHP?

I like to feel proud of the job that I do, so I wanted to work in a sector that makes a real difference to tackling inequality. The people I work with are incredibly supportive and positive. It’s great, too, to work with the staff who take part in volunteering activities. They are all really committed to making a difference to the lives of our residents and service users.