How volunteering reconnected one resident with their community

After months of unanswered job applications and growing self-doubt, Haringey resident Daniel Aidoo, a digital marketing specialist, began volunteering with Haringey Community Collaborative in November 2025. 

Having now secured employment, Daniel shared his thoughts about his time volunteering on LinkedIn, offering great insight into the power of volunteering and learning more about your local community. 

I didn’t know half of what was happening in my own borough until I volunteered with the Haringey Community Collaborative. Helping them with digital communications honestly changed something in me. It restored my sense of worth, my value, my confidence. It reminded me I’m still capable when I’d started to doubt that.

I was deep in job hunting. Applications into the void. Silence. But the Collaborative? They welcomed me in. They saw value when most places didn’t even respond.

Volunteering gave me purpose when I felt like I was losing it. Working for free didn’t bother me because I genuinely loved what I was doing. I was creating something meaningful, contributing to something real. That mattered more than a paycheck. I created a highlight reel for the Haringey Community Showcase, an event bringing together local organisations, charities, and grassroots projects all working to support residents across Haringey.

I’ve lived here my whole life, but seeing the sheer number of people quietly serving this community gave me a completely different perspective on the place I call home.

Huge thanks to Orsolya Szeverics, Beth Kay and Juliet Chard, one of the most incredible set of people I’ve worked with. Their heart, compassion, and the way they lead with genuine care helped me through more than they probably know.

Daniel Aidoo