so we’ve all had those conversations at the kitchen table with our friends you
the kitchen table with our friends you
the kitchen table with our friends you know the one that starts with I wonder
know the one that starts with I wonder
know the one that starts with I wonder what would happen if or wouldn’t it be
what would happen if or wouldn’t it be
what would happen if or wouldn’t it be great if well now imagine if we actually
great if well now imagine if we actually
great if well now imagine if we actually did something with those ideas my name
did something with those ideas my name
did something with those ideas my name is una Begley and I’m going to talk
is una Begley and I’m going to talk
is una Begley and I’m going to talk today about volunteering with first
today about volunteering with first
today about volunteering with first fortnight Ireland’s mental health arts
fortnight Ireland’s mental health arts
fortnight Ireland’s mental health arts charity has taught me I’ve learned four
charity has taught me I’ve learned four
charity has taught me I’ve learned four main lessons about the strengths of
main lessons about the strengths of
main lessons about the strengths of volunteers who aim to act on those
volunteers who aim to act on those
volunteers who aim to act on those kitchen-table ideas to have a positive
kitchen-table ideas to have a positive
kitchen-table ideas to have a positive impact on social behaviors and how they
impact on social behaviors and how they
impact on social behaviors and how they can make their volunteering even more
can make their volunteering even more
can make their volunteering even more effective and those four lessons are
effective and those four lessons are
effective and those four lessons are voluntary does not mean amateur
voluntary does not mean amateur
voluntary does not mean amateur volunteers are the social change makers
volunteers are the social change makers
volunteers are the social change makers the individual volunteers are as
the individual volunteers are as
the individual volunteers are as important as the organisation they
important as the organisation they
important as the organisation they volunteer with and there’s strength in
volunteer with and there’s strength in
volunteer with and there’s strength in numbers but sometimes if you will do I
numbers but sometimes if you will do I
numbers but sometimes if you will do I volunteer with first fortnight which was
volunteer with first fortnight which was
volunteer with first fortnight which was born of a conversation between two
born of a conversation between two
born of a conversation between two friends at a kitchen table in a
friends at a kitchen table in a
friends at a kitchen table in a semi-detached house in Tyler Dublin now
semi-detached house in Tyler Dublin now
semi-detached house in Tyler Dublin now I wasn’t one of the two people at that
I wasn’t one of the two people at that
I wasn’t one of the two people at that table
table
table unfortunately so I can’t claim credit
unfortunately so I can’t claim credit
unfortunately so I can’t claim credit the two friends in question were the
the two friends in question were the
the two friends in question were the charity’s founders JP Swain and David
charity’s founders JP Swain and David
charity’s founders JP Swain and David Keegan first fortnight is an
Keegan first fortnight is an
Keegan first fortnight is an organization that aims to reduce mental
organization that aims to reduce mental
organization that aims to reduce mental health stigma through the arts and
health stigma through the arts and
health stigma through the arts and cultural action it’s run almost entirely
cultural action it’s run almost entirely
cultural action it’s run almost entirely by volunteers it consists of a mental
by volunteers it consists of a mental
by volunteers it consists of a mental health teamed arts festival that runs
health teamed arts festival that runs
health teamed arts festival that runs each January in addition to being a
each January in addition to being a
each January in addition to being a service provider with a professional
service provider with a professional
service provider with a professional year-round creative therapy service that
year-round creative therapy service that
year-round creative therapy service that provides free art and music therapy to
provides free art and music therapy to
provides free art and music therapy to people experiencing mental ill-health
people experiencing mental ill-health
people experiencing mental ill-health and who are homeless or at risk of
and who are homeless or at risk of
and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness the festival itself aims to
homelessness the festival itself aims to
homelessness the festival itself aims to capture that buzz that happens in an
capture that buzz that happens in an
capture that buzz that happens in an audience at the end of a creative or
audience at the end of a creative or
audience at the end of a creative or cultural event whether that’s music
cultural event whether that’s music
cultural event whether that’s music theatre film spoken word dance sports
theatre film spoken word dance sports
theatre film spoken word dance sports events and focus that energy and
events and focus that energy and
events and focus that energy and discussion in one particular direction
discussion in one particular direction
discussion in one particular direction onto one particular topic specifically
onto one particular topic specifically
onto one particular topic specifically mental health and where do I fit into
mental health and where do I fit into
mental health and where do I fit into all this
all this
all this well I’m one of the volunteers who
well I’m one of the volunteers who
well I’m one of the volunteers who helped to make first fortnight happen I
helped to make first fortnight happen I
helped to make first fortnight happen I should probably point out that until
should probably point out that until
should probably point out that until four years ago I’d never volunteered in
four years ago I’d never volunteered in
four years ago I’d never volunteered in my life my world didn’t expand that far
my life my world didn’t expand that far
my life my world didn’t expand that far beyond myself my friends and my family
beyond myself my friends and my family
beyond myself my friends and my family and the occasional donation of money to
and the occasional donation of money to
and the occasional donation of money to one cause or another or to someone I saw
one cause or another or to someone I saw
one cause or another or to someone I saw a living on the streets
a living on the streets
a living on the streets I loved live music and I enjoy going to
I loved live music and I enjoy going to
I loved live music and I enjoy going to gigs and music festivals when I wasn’t
gigs and music festivals when I wasn’t
gigs and music festivals when I wasn’t working in my full-time job as a speech
working in my full-time job as a speech
working in my full-time job as a speech and language therapist I was also one of
and language therapist I was also one of
and language therapist I was also one of those people who rarely acted on those I
those people who rarely acted on those I
those people who rarely acted on those I wonder what would happen if or wouldn’t
wonder what would happen if or wouldn’t
wonder what would happen if or wouldn’t it be great if ideas presuming that
it be great if ideas presuming that
it be great if ideas presuming that someone else could do them better or
someone else could do them better or
someone else could do them better or just being too lazy to put them into
just being too lazy to put them into
just being too lazy to put them into action but over the last four years I’ve
action but over the last four years I’ve
action but over the last four years I’ve learned so much about the real tangible
learned so much about the real tangible
learned so much about the real tangible change that we can all make to the world
change that we can all make to the world
change that we can all make to the world through volunteering and I’m going to
through volunteering and I’m going to
through volunteering and I’m going to share some of that learning with you as
share some of that learning with you as
share some of that learning with you as I tell my story I came across first
I tell my story I came across first
I tell my story I came across first fortnight in 2011 one year after its
fortnight in 2011 one year after its
fortnight in 2011 one year after its inaugural event as an avid gate goer who
inaugural event as an avid gate goer who
inaugural event as an avid gate goer who wanted to see a band who happened to be
wanted to see a band who happened to be
wanted to see a band who happened to be playing at first for tonight’s flagship
playing at first for tonight’s flagship
playing at first for tonight’s flagship finale gig if I’m honest I wasn’t aware
finale gig if I’m honest I wasn’t aware
finale gig if I’m honest I wasn’t aware it was a charity event until I was there
it was a charity event until I was there
it was a charity event until I was there when the conversation about mental
when the conversation about mental
when the conversation about mental health was triggered in a gentle way
health was triggered in a gentle way
health was triggered in a gentle way through the use of brief speeches audio
through the use of brief speeches audio
through the use of brief speeches audio visuals and the band’s themselves
visuals and the band’s themselves
visuals and the band’s themselves talking about why they wanted to be
talking about why they wanted to be
talking about why they wanted to be involved in first fortnight and its
involved in first fortnight and its
involved in first fortnight and its mental health stigma reduction aims the
mental health stigma reduction aims the
mental health stigma reduction aims the fact that the event was run by
fact that the event was run by
fact that the event was run by volunteers wasn’t apparent in any aspect
volunteers wasn’t apparent in any aspect
volunteers wasn’t apparent in any aspect of the night and it competed favorably
of the night and it competed favorably
of the night and it competed favorably with any professional gig I’d ever
with any professional gig I’d ever
with any professional gig I’d ever attended the idea that volunteers could
attended the idea that volunteers could
attended the idea that volunteers could come together to stage large-scale
come together to stage large-scale
come together to stage large-scale high-quality events astounded me and
high-quality events astounded me and
high-quality events astounded me and looking back it was at this point that I
looking back it was at this point that I
looking back it was at this point that I learned that first volunteering lesson
learned that first volunteering lesson
learned that first volunteering lesson voluntary does not mean amateur I
voluntary does not mean amateur I
voluntary does not mean amateur I realized that nice that first
realized that nice that first
realized that nice that first fortnight’s volunteers were staging
fortnight’s volunteers were staging
fortnight’s volunteers were staging events to engage festival participants
events to engage festival participants
events to engage festival participants in frank discussion about mental health
in frank discussion about mental health
in frank discussion about mental health in a stigma free space the idea that d
in a stigma free space the idea that d
in a stigma free space the idea that d stigmatizing mental health could be as
stigmatizing mental health could be as
stigmatizing mental health could be as easy as staging an arts or cultural
easy as staging an arts or cultural
easy as staging an arts or cultural event surprised me but the conversations
event surprised me but the conversations
event surprised me but the conversations I heard that night
I heard that night
I heard that night unlike any I had heard in their openness
unlike any I had heard in their openness
unlike any I had heard in their openness and honesty but in order to be taken
and honesty but in order to be taken
and honesty but in order to be taken seriously those events need to be of a
seriously those events need to be of a
seriously those events need to be of a high enough quality to have an impact
high enough quality to have an impact
high enough quality to have an impact and low quality events risk having an
and low quality events risk having an
and low quality events risk having an even more stigmatizing effect so as
even more stigmatizing effect so as
even more stigmatizing effect so as volunteers we need to aim as high as
volunteers we need to aim as high as
volunteers we need to aim as high as possible in the two years after I
possible in the two years after I
possible in the two years after I discovered first fortnight I went
discovered first fortnight I went
discovered first fortnight I went through periods of being mentally
through periods of being mentally
through periods of being mentally unhealthy and I was surprised at how
unhealthy and I was surprised at how
unhealthy and I was surprised at how hard I found it to reach out for support
hard I found it to reach out for support
hard I found it to reach out for support or to talk to anyone in my life about
or to talk to anyone in my life about
or to talk to anyone in my life about how I was feeling in a reversal of how
how I was feeling in a reversal of how
how I was feeling in a reversal of how first fortnight was born of a kitchen
first fortnight was born of a kitchen
first fortnight was born of a kitchen table conversation my involvement was
table conversation my involvement was
table conversation my involvement was born of my complete inability to talk to
born of my complete inability to talk to
born of my complete inability to talk to the people I cared about about what I
the people I cared about about what I
the people I cared about about what I was going through my self-confidence
was going through my self-confidence
was going through my self-confidence nosedived and my negative self-talk
nosedived and my negative self-talk
nosedived and my negative self-talk reached a point where was impacting
reached a point where was impacting
reached a point where was impacting daily on my self-esteem each January I
daily on my self-esteem each January I
daily on my self-esteem each January I went to more and more first fortnight
went to more and more first fortnight
went to more and more first fortnight music theater film and spoken word
music theater film and spoken word
music theater film and spoken word events finding strengths and their easy
events finding strengths and their easy
events finding strengths and their easy openness about all things mental health
openness about all things mental health
openness about all things mental health and by talking to people about my
and by talking to people about my
and by talking to people about my attendance at these events I was able to
attendance at these events I was able to
attendance at these events I was able to open the conversations that I needed to
open the conversations that I needed to
open the conversations that I needed to have but that I was struggling to find
have but that I was struggling to find
have but that I was struggling to find the words for by talking to people about
the words for by talking to people about
the words for by talking to people about the events I was going to I was actually
the events I was going to I was actually
the events I was going to I was actually able to talk about what I was going
able to talk about what I was going
able to talk about what I was going through in 2014 as a result of that
through in 2014 as a result of that
through in 2014 as a result of that direct personal effect of attending
direct personal effect of attending
direct personal effect of attending first fortnight events in those previous
first fortnight events in those previous
first fortnight events in those previous two years I volunteered for the festival
two years I volunteered for the festival
two years I volunteered for the festival for the first time it was at this point
for the first time it was at this point
for the first time it was at this point that I learned my second volunteering
that I learned my second volunteering
that I learned my second volunteering lesson volunteers are the social change
lesson volunteers are the social change
lesson volunteers are the social change makers although the tasks I was given
makers although the tasks I was given
makers although the tasks I was given were fairly easy I realized that I had a
were fairly easy I realized that I had a
were fairly easy I realized that I had a far reaching roll across the festival as
far reaching roll across the festival as
far reaching roll across the festival as a visible representative of first
a visible representative of first
a visible representative of first fortnight by showing a willingness to
fortnight by showing a willingness to
fortnight by showing a willingness to engage with audience members in
engage with audience members in
engage with audience members in conversations about mental health I was
conversations about mental health I was
conversations about mental health I was setting the tone for those first
setting the tone for those first
setting the tone for those first fortnight events and my role as a
fortnight events and my role as a
fortnight events and my role as a volunteer
volunteer
volunteer actually went far further I learned from
actually went far further I learned from
actually went far further I learned from volunteering with first fortnight to go
volunteering with first fortnight to go
volunteering with first fortnight to go on as an advocate for mental health
on as an advocate for mental health
on as an advocate for mental health stigma reduction through all facets of
stigma reduction through all facets of
stigma reduction through all facets of my life by my behaviors when mental
my life by my behaviors when mental
my life by my behaviors when mental health is on the table volunteering in a
health is on the table volunteering in a
health is on the table volunteering in a real way changed me and how I interact
real way changed me and how I interact
real way changed me and how I interact with the world and the fact that I’m a
with the world and the fact that I’m a
with the world and the fact that I’m a volunteer and not an activist is also an
volunteer and not an activist is also an
volunteer and not an activist is also an important point research has shown that
important point research has shown that
important point research has shown that that individuals can resist social
that individuals can resist social
that individuals can resist social change due to negative stereotypes about
change due to negative stereotypes about
change due to negative stereotypes about activists regardless of the domain of
activists regardless of the domain of
activists regardless of the domain of activism viewing them as militant and
activism viewing them as militant and
activism viewing them as militant and eccentric but as a volunteer
eccentric but as a volunteer
eccentric but as a volunteer I’m the colleague friend family member
I’m the colleague friend family member
I’m the colleague friend family member peer who just happens to be volunteering
peer who just happens to be volunteering
peer who just happens to be volunteering with a mental health arts charity and
with a mental health arts charity and
with a mental health arts charity and trying to demonstrate D stigmatizing
trying to demonstrate D stigmatizing
trying to demonstrate D stigmatizing behaviors that first year I also learned
behaviors that first year I also learned
behaviors that first year I also learned my first lesson but in my third lesson
my first lesson but in my third lesson
my first lesson but in my third lesson that individual volunteers are as
that individual volunteers are as
that individual volunteers are as important as the organization they
important as the organization they
important as the organization they volunteer with first fortnight gets its
volunteer with first fortnight gets its
volunteer with first fortnight gets its share of media and social media coverage
share of media and social media coverage
share of media and social media coverage and its upcoming 2018 festival has an
and its upcoming 2018 festival has an
and its upcoming 2018 festival has an expected audience of over a thousand
expected audience of over a thousand
expected audience of over a thousand people but one of the most significant
people but one of the most significant
people but one of the most significant and far-reaching effects of my
and far-reaching effects of my
and far-reaching effects of my volunteering role is the trickle-down
volunteering role is the trickle-down
volunteering role is the trickle-down effect I’ve created countless
effect I’ve created countless
effect I’ve created countless opportunities to talk about mental
opportunities to talk about mental
opportunities to talk about mental health through my discussion of my
health through my discussion of my
health through my discussion of my involvement with the organization I’ve
involvement with the organization I’ve
involvement with the organization I’ve had conversations with friends family
had conversations with friends family
had conversations with friends family colleagues and even strangers that I
colleagues and even strangers that I
colleagues and even strangers that I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for first
wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for first
wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for first fortnight I’ve been told things and I’ve
fortnight I’ve been told things and I’ve
fortnight I’ve been told things and I’ve shared things that I never would have
shared things that I never would have
shared things that I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise if I’m
had the opportunity to otherwise if I’m
had the opportunity to otherwise if I’m honest at the end of that festival in
honest at the end of that festival in
honest at the end of that festival in January 2014 I thought my involvement in
January 2014 I thought my involvement in
January 2014 I thought my involvement in the organisation was over if I had time
the organisation was over if I had time
the organisation was over if I had time I plan to volunteer again for the
I plan to volunteer again for the
I plan to volunteer again for the following year’s festival but I’d
following year’s festival but I’d
following year’s festival but I’d largely forgotten about first fortnight
largely forgotten about first fortnight
largely forgotten about first fortnight when I was approached in April 2014 to
when I was approached in April 2014 to
when I was approached in April 2014 to get involved as a volunteer fundraiser
get involved as a volunteer fundraiser
get involved as a volunteer fundraiser in the space of a year I went from
in the space of a year I went from
in the space of a year I went from volunteering with the festival for the
volunteering with the festival for the
volunteering with the festival for the first time to becoming a fundraiser to
first time to becoming a fundraiser to
first time to becoming a fundraiser to taking on the festival volunteer
taking on the festival volunteer
taking on the festival volunteer coordination role all as a volunteer
coordination role all as a volunteer
coordination role all as a volunteer myself it was as part of this
myself it was as part of this
myself it was as part of this coordination role that I learned my
coordination role that I learned my
coordination role that I learned my fourth volunteering lesson there’s
fourth volunteering lesson there’s
fourth volunteering lesson there’s strength in numbers
strength in numbers
strength in numbers but sometimes if you will do the
but sometimes if you will do the
but sometimes if you will do the festival volunteer group has grown from
festival volunteer group has grown from
festival volunteer group has grown from about 50 in the first year that I
about 50 in the first year that I
about 50 in the first year that I volunteered to about 150 in January 2017
volunteered to about 150 in January 2017
volunteered to about 150 in January 2017 trying to wrangle a group of that size
trying to wrangle a group of that size
trying to wrangle a group of that size as a volunteer myself was no easy feat
as a volunteer myself was no easy feat
as a volunteer myself was no easy feat but I’ve loved it
but I’ve loved it
but I’ve loved it and over the last three years have
and over the last three years have
and over the last three years have managed to develop a successful festival
managed to develop a successful festival
managed to develop a successful festival volunteer coordination system that I’m
volunteer coordination system that I’m
volunteer coordination system that I’m now handing on to others to manage I’ve
now handing on to others to manage I’ve
now handing on to others to manage I’ve put in place induction for them
put in place induction for them
put in place induction for them including suicide awareness safe talk
including suicide awareness safe talk
including suicide awareness safe talk training to empower the volunteers for
training to empower the volunteers for
training to empower the volunteers for the festival
the festival
the festival and I always remember how I felt when I
and I always remember how I felt when I
and I always remember how I felt when I volunteered for the first time and the
volunteered for the first time and the
volunteered for the first time and the nerves that went with it it was a bit
nerves that went with it it was a bit
nerves that went with it it was a bit like that feeling on the first day of
like that feeling on the first day of
like that feeling on the first day of school when you walk into class and you
school when you walk into class and you
school when you walk into class and you don’t know anyone and in my development
don’t know anyone and in my development
don’t know anyone and in my development of the coordinator role I’ve tried to
of the coordinator role I’ve tried to
of the coordinator role I’ve tried to remember that feeling because it reminds
remember that feeling because it reminds
remember that feeling because it reminds me how important it is for volunteers to
me how important it is for volunteers to
me how important it is for volunteers to feel part of a cohesive group our
feel part of a cohesive group our
feel part of a cohesive group our volunteers are very diverse from those
volunteers are very diverse from those
volunteers are very diverse from those who just like volunteering with arts
who just like volunteering with arts
who just like volunteering with arts festivals to those with personal
festivals to those with personal
festivals to those with personal experience of mental ill-health to those
experience of mental ill-health to those
experience of mental ill-health to those who just want to support the first
who just want to support the first
who just want to support the first fortnight’s mental health stigma
fortnight’s mental health stigma
fortnight’s mental health stigma reduction aim but it’s very important
reduction aim but it’s very important
reduction aim but it’s very important for them to feel a sense of camaraderie
for them to feel a sense of camaraderie
for them to feel a sense of camaraderie and belonging I’ve seen the strength of
and belonging I’ve seen the strength of
and belonging I’ve seen the strength of that larger volunteer group in the
that larger volunteer group in the
that larger volunteer group in the friendships that form and the fun they
friendships that form and the fun they
friendships that form and the fun they have while they’re fulfilling their
have while they’re fulfilling their
have while they’re fulfilling their festival roles but when I say sometimes
festival roles but when I say sometimes
festival roles but when I say sometimes if you will do I’m talking about us
if you will do I’m talking about us
if you will do I’m talking about us volunteers who work throughout the year
volunteers who work throughout the year
volunteers who work throughout the year on the running of the organization and
on the running of the organization and
on the running of the organization and the programming of the festival I’m
the programming of the festival I’m
the programming of the festival I’m involved in fundraising volunteer
involved in fundraising volunteer
involved in fundraising volunteer coordination as I’ve mentioned and since
coordination as I’ve mentioned and since
coordination as I’ve mentioned and since 2015 as a volunteer member of the board
2015 as a volunteer member of the board
2015 as a volunteer member of the board of directors of the charity there’s
of directors of the charity there’s
of directors of the charity there’s about 20 of us who come together usually
about 20 of us who come together usually
about 20 of us who come together usually weekly to work on fundraising
weekly to work on fundraising
weekly to work on fundraising communications marketing web development
communications marketing web development
communications marketing web development and the programming of the festival
and the programming of the festival
and the programming of the festival which for January 2018 has seen the
which for January 2018 has seen the
which for January 2018 has seen the festival grow to over a hundred events
festival grow to over a hundred events
festival grow to over a hundred events across 17 counties in Ireland we come
across 17 counties in Ireland we come
across 17 counties in Ireland we come from a range of backgrounds some in
from a range of backgrounds some in
from a range of backgrounds some in mental health some in the arts some like
mental health some in the arts some like
mental health some in the arts some like myself working in unrelated fields
myself working in unrelated fields
myself working in unrelated fields and this group needs to have a smaller
and this group needs to have a smaller
and this group needs to have a smaller more focused number so that tasks can be
more focused number so that tasks can be
more focused number so that tasks can be completed and decisions made I remember
completed and decisions made I remember
completed and decisions made I remember to talk talking to one of the festival
to talk talking to one of the festival
to talk talking to one of the festival volunteers about this smaller group as
volunteers about this smaller group as
volunteers about this smaller group as volunteers and he said she are not
volunteers and he said she are not
volunteers and he said she are not really volunteers and at the time I
really volunteers and at the time I
really volunteers and at the time I didn’t understand what he meant and if
didn’t understand what he meant and if
didn’t understand what he meant and if I’m honest
I’m honest
I’m honest I kind of took offense at a statement
I kind of took offense at a statement
I kind of took offense at a statement but I think I do understand what he
but I think I do understand what he
but I think I do understand what he means now we do fulfill a different role
means now we do fulfill a different role
means now we do fulfill a different role to the festival volunteers who volunteer
to the festival volunteers who volunteer
to the festival volunteers who volunteer over a short but intense period of time
over a short but intense period of time
over a short but intense period of time I do see my role as a more long-term
I do see my role as a more long-term
I do see my role as a more long-term public spirited effort and we all commit
public spirited effort and we all commit
public spirited effort and we all commit significant amounts of time to us but it
significant amounts of time to us but it
significant amounts of time to us but it is still done on a voluntary basis and
is still done on a voluntary basis and
is still done on a voluntary basis and without it the charity would have been
without it the charity would have been
without it the charity would have been unable to develop we’ve come a long way
unable to develop we’ve come a long way
unable to develop we’ve come a long way the conversation about mental health and
the conversation about mental health and
the conversation about mental health and ill health in Ireland has begun but just
ill health in Ireland has begun but just
ill health in Ireland has begun but just as first fortnight began as a kitchen
as first fortnight began as a kitchen
as first fortnight began as a kitchen table conversation until the
table conversation until the
table conversation until the conversation about mental health is a
conversation about mental health is a
conversation about mental health is a safe conversation to have a kitchen
safe conversation to have a kitchen
safe conversation to have a kitchen tables across Ireland across Europe and
tables across Ireland across Europe and
tables across Ireland across Europe and around the world then the need to push
around the world then the need to push
around the world then the need to push for social change and stigma reduction
for social change and stigma reduction
for social change and stigma reduction will continue I don’t know about you but
will continue I don’t know about you but
will continue I don’t know about you but I used to be one of those people that
I used to be one of those people that
I used to be one of those people that when I found myself saying I wonder what
when I found myself saying I wonder what
when I found myself saying I wonder what would happen if or wouldn’t it be great
would happen if or wouldn’t it be great
would happen if or wouldn’t it be great if I was guilty of leaving those
if I was guilty of leaving those
if I was guilty of leaving those thoughts there at the kitchen table with
thoughts there at the kitchen table with
thoughts there at the kitchen table with the dirty cops and moving on without
the dirty cops and moving on without
the dirty cops and moving on without ever doing anything about the idea but
ever doing anything about the idea but
ever doing anything about the idea but now I think about what would have
now I think about what would have
now I think about what would have happened if those two lads had done that
happened if those two lads had done that
happened if those two lads had done that first fortnight wouldn’t exist and
first fortnight wouldn’t exist and
first fortnight wouldn’t exist and wouldn’t be making a meaningful change
wouldn’t be making a meaningful change
wouldn’t be making a meaningful change to mental health stigma reduction in
to mental health stigma reduction in
to mental health stigma reduction in this country and from a selfish point of
this country and from a selfish point of
this country and from a selfish point of view if they hadn’t acted on their idea
view if they hadn’t acted on their idea
view if they hadn’t acted on their idea and found at first fortnight then I
and found at first fortnight then I
and found at first fortnight then I wouldn’t be on this stage today talking
wouldn’t be on this stage today talking
wouldn’t be on this stage today talking to you about volunteering it’s here I’m
to you about volunteering it’s here I’m
to you about volunteering it’s here I’m gonna sneak in a bonus fifth lesson that
gonna sneak in a bonus fifth lesson that
gonna sneak in a bonus fifth lesson that I’ve learned from volunteering you will
I’ve learned from volunteering you will
I’ve learned from volunteering you will always gain more from volunteering than
always gain more from volunteering than
always gain more from volunteering than you put in
you put in
you put in it might sound grandiose but
it might sound grandiose but
it might sound grandiose but volunteering has changed my life
volunteering has changed my life
volunteering has changed my life it’s given me a great group of friends
it’s given me a great group of friends
it’s given me a great group of friends it’s challenged me to do things outside
it’s challenged me to do things outside
it’s challenged me to do things outside of my comfort zone it’s helped me to
of my comfort zone it’s helped me to
of my comfort zone it’s helped me to develop my skills
develop my skills
develop my skills and to do things that I perceive to be
and to do things that I perceive to be
and to do things that I perceive to be outside of my skill set it’s given me
outside of my skill set it’s given me
outside of my skill set it’s given me back my self-confidence and it’s helped
back my self-confidence and it’s helped
back my self-confidence and it’s helped me to act on those kitchen table
me to act on those kitchen table
me to act on those kitchen table conversations like I wonder what would
conversations like I wonder what would
conversations like I wonder what would happen if I applied to be a TEDx speaker
happen if I applied to be a TEDx speaker
happen if I applied to be a TEDx speaker so if you have one of those kitchen
so if you have one of those kitchen
so if you have one of those kitchen table light bulb moments do something
table light bulb moments do something
table light bulb moments do something with the idea and find the people who
with the idea and find the people who
with the idea and find the people who can help you to make it happen just like
can help you to make it happen just like
can help you to make it happen just like first fortnight’s founders did because
first fortnight’s founders did because
first fortnight’s founders did because with people donating their time skills
with people donating their time skills
with people donating their time skills and effort as volunteers
and effort as volunteers
and effort as volunteers it’s truly humbling what you can achieve
it’s truly humbling what you can achieve
it’s truly humbling what you can achieve so don’t expect someone else to do it
so don’t expect someone else to do it
so don’t expect someone else to do it get up from the kitchen table and make
get up from the kitchen table and make
get up from the kitchen table and make it happen thank you
it happen thank you
it happen thank you [Applause]
”
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