Volunteers Story: Paul McLaughlin, Larkhall and District Volunteer Group (LDVG)

   

Let’s introduce our volunteer!

Paul McLaughlin volunteered for Larkhall and District Volunteer Group (LDVG) for five years.  During that time, he took on various roles which included admin, events, fundraising and Board Treasurer.  For many years he has also volunteered with his local Tenants & Residents Association, covering various duties but mainly as their treasurer.  He is now a volunteer with St. Columbkille’s Church in Rutherglen where he assists the Parish Priest supporting fundraising and other activities, including organising and taking part in the Kilt Walk in 2021 which raised over £30,000 for the church.

What is Paul’s volunteer story?

When Paul started volunteering with LDVG his initial duties were specifically Admin, and he helped set up new systems on the computer to record data on volunteers and members.  This information was important, and his contribution made a huge difference to the quality and quantity of information easily available to staff. His interest in LDVG grew and he started helping in numerous ways, offering suggestions and alternatives to improve and modernise current systems, investigating and analysing current policies and procedures to ensure compliance and generally upgrading the standards of their operation.  He also assisted the volunteer coordinator with the preparation and delivery of volunteer inductions.  As Paul’s confidence grew, he joined the LDVG Board of Trustees and took on the responsibilities of Treasurer.  He worked closely with staff to ensure the finances of the organisation were up to date and accurate to ensure the Charity followed the right track.

His most significant contributions and achievements.

Paul’s role on the Board was extensive and he challenged himself and others to extend their learning and knowledge for the good of the organisation.  He was heavily involved in the recruitment of the new Charity Manager and other new employees, spending many hours updating and improving job profiles. When LDVG introduced a new data base system (Salesforce), Paul made himself familiar with the system and took on the challenge of moving all the data (over 300 members and over 60 volunteers) from the old spreadsheets onto Salesforce, which was a massive task.

What makes Paul stand out in the crowd?

Paul is a dedicated and conscientious worker.  He always aims for improvement in all that he does.  He happily gives up his time for the benefit of others and works tirelessly in various communities to develop, promote, and enhance their circumstances.  His interest in any task is inspiring and he often goes above and beyond to resolve difficult issues, never giving up until a resolution is found.  He has tackled a variety of problems during his time with LDVG, working his way through endless mountains of paperwork, accounts etc and his dedication and support were very much appreciated. Volunteers like Paul who work behind the scenes are rarely recognised for their achievements, but his contribution has played a huge and important part in the growth and development of LDVG and he should be very proud.

“When I started with LDVG, Paul was a huge support as I navigated my first leadership role.  He not only offered advice and guidance but was able to challenge me which helped me grow into the role. He has supported and assisted with many of the changes which has enabled LDVG to evolve into the service it is now, and we are extremely thankful for the time he dedicated to us.”

Sandra McCrory, Charity Manager

"Having worked with Paul for several years I know how energetic and focused he can be when a task needs completed.  He’s a true gentleman who takes his volunteer roles very seriously and is always willing to go that extra mile to help others."

Ann Nisbet, Volunteer Co-ordinator

"I worked alongside Paul for many years and found him to be a very considerate and inspiring person, he always takes the time to listen to everyone and gives so much of his time to help others."

Jacqueline Gallacher, Transport Co-ordinator

"Paul was a great support as a fellow Trustee and as Treasurer, he helped to greatly improve the Charity's financial procedures."

Anne Alston, LDVG Chairperson