Nathan’s Volunteer Story
One of the many brilliant things about our team of volunteers is the variety of people we attract. We really value the range of life experience and skillsets they bring to our groups, supporting our young people in many different ways.
Nathan has been volunteering with The Green Team since early 2026. Before then, he had been running his own business.
We asked Nathan to share a little more about his background and what brought him to The Green Team.
For the last 10 years, I have been running my own business in the food and drink industry. But then, having sold my business in September 2025, I suddenly had a bit more time on my hands!’
A desire to do something more…
Nathan talks about wanting to do something more,
‘Not wanting to start over in that industry, and with a desire to do something more fulfilling, be outside in nature more and to ‘give something back’, I started exploring opportunities that combined these things.
‘Having found The Green Team with a simple online search, Mandy the volunteer Coordinator made the onboarding process really easy and was so warm and welcoming.’
Out and about with Thrive
After come introductory volunteer training sessions, Nathan was soon out and about with Kate Hedges and her Thrive team.
Thrive is a Green Team programme for 14-18 year olds and aims to support mental health through building a safe space, community, connection to nature, and achievement in activities. The group meets weekly, over the course of a year which is lovely to help build long term relationships.
‘I have loved my time with Thrive and the Green Team. Working with the young people has been so rewarding, seeing them develop in such heart-warming and unexpected ways.
‘I have really enjoyed getting to know each of the young people (in their own time!) and to be a small, but consistent and reliable part of their lives.’
Next steps for Nathan
With one group coming to an end, Nathan is now looking forward to meeting a new group in the next session and helping them on their journey of personal discovery and growth.
Mandy our Volunteer Coordinator is delighted to have Nathan with The Green Team,
‘We look forward to welcoming Nathan back to the next Thrive Programme. He has been a great addition to the Thrive team and slotted in beautifully to our wee organisation. Having positive volunteer male role models on our team really helps our young men to flourish on project and Nathan has been quietly working away building relationships. Nathan takes the time to get to know our young people and that is a magical thing. We are so glad that Nathan has taking time out from his usual life to do volunteering – it has been an absolute bonus for The Green Team.’
INSPIRED BY NATHAN’S STORY?
The Green Team is looking for Volunteers on weekdays to support our nature connection programmes. Can you help? FIND OUT MORE including how to APPLY >>
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE GREEN TEAM
The Green Team is committed to reducing inequality, valuing diversity and enabling inclusion. We have also signed up to The Volunteer Charter through Volunteer Scotland which helps to ensure that volunteers are engaged in meaningful, inclusive and legitimate tasks which do not undermine the role of paid workers.
We welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, particularly where we are under-represented. Currently, this includes people who identify as having a disability, and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.