Meet VICTA’s senior volunteer team
After a successful pilot programme in 2024, with support from existing volunteers and our young people, we are delighted to announce our Senior Volunteer programme is in full swing!
The Senior Volunteer programme is designed to recognise those that have shown an outstanding commitment to VICTA, are experienced in what they do and can confidently represent what we stand for: empowering children and young adults with a vision impairment. Senior Volunteers will work collaboratively with the Activities and Fundraising Teams to represent VICTA at school/college presentations, at conferences and exhibitions and on family activities.
Please join us in welcoming them – scroll down to find out who they are!
Ellie Cowin
Hi, I’m Ellie! I got involved with volunteering when I joined my current employer, Highfield. I have now been volunteering for VICTA for the past 10 years and it is genuinely the best decision I ever made! Working with VICTA and the families involved is such a positive and fun experience to be a part of. Over the years I have attended many family weekends, residential trips and even an international trip to Barcelona. Being able to support young people with visual impairments and help them make memories of a lifetime is the most rewarding opportunity.
Just over 12 months ago VICTA asked me to become a Senior Volunteer for their pilot and I couldn’t have been happier to jump at the chance to do this. The acknowledgement from the VICTA team of my years of volunteering, by them asking me to be in this role, was such an honour and I can’t thank them enough for their ongoing support. I hope to support VICTA with much more fundraising and being able to represent the charity at other events across the country moving forwards.
I have made so many wonderful friendships and memories with volunteers, VICTA staff and families over the years and I look forward to making more as I continue to volunteer with this fantastic charity! The events that VICTA put on can only be described as all-rounders. Being a volunteer is the most rewarding experience and one that I think everyone should try!
Ronel Verwoerd
I first came across VICTA at the Dinosnores sleepover event in 2016 at the Natural History Museum, London, where I am still working (20 years and counting…). Since that serendipitous encounter, I have become a dedicated volunteer, participating in numerous activities and trips, including five 10-day ICC excursions to exiting places including Croatia, Belgium, Italy and Hereford. I love organising science days at the Museum, leveraging my extensive background in education, SEND and science.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy outdoor swimming, choral singing, and buying (if not necessarily reading) books.
I find immense fulfilment in working with VICTA, witnessing first-hand the positive impact the organisation has on young people by helping them build confidence through new experiences.
I live in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, with my two daughters, two dogs and one husband.
Eddy Eyad
Hi, I’m Eddy. I’m 29 and have been working within financial services since I graduated in 2019.
I first got introduced to VICTA at age 19 as part of an international trip to Zeist, Netherlands, and started volunteering the following year. I also ran the London marathon as part of Team VICTA in 2016!
I’ve had the privilege of attending multiple international trips as a volunteer for VICTA, including ICC in Belgium and Croatia delivering workshops on employability and male grooming/ etiquette. I’ve also enjoyed speaking at a number of family weekends and sharing my story with families that have children with visual impairments.
Outside of work, I have been releasing music for the last few years and have somehow accumulated a few million listens on Spotify 😉
I’m looking forward to meeting you at an upcoming event!
Danny Heppenstall
My name’s Danny and I’ve volunteered for VICTA for just over 3 years now. It feels like longer than that but time really does fly when you’re having fun. Believe me, FUN is exactly what happens when you sign up for VICTA! I sign up for every trip I can attend, every family weekend and every summer camp and all the inbetweens.
I have raised money and volunteered for several different charities in the past but I can honestly say, being a VICTA volunteer is by far the proudest achievement of my life! It is the most rewarding thing you can do – just seeing the difference it makes to children and young adults lives is indescribable. The work this charity does to change the lives of visually impared children and adults is groundbreaking – if you’re considering joining, please do!
I am honoured to be a senior volunteer and I will volunteer with VICTA forever if they’ll have me haha!
Johnny Reed
Hi, I’m Johnny! I’ve been a proud volunteer for VICTA since 2019. Over the years, I’ve taken part in a range of events, including Family Weekends and Summer Camps, and I’ve even completed the London Marathon twice to raise funds for this incredible charity.
Volunteering with VICTA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has helped me grow in confidence, strength, and social skills, while also giving me the privilege of witnessing the personal growth of the children we support. Being part of a team that helps participants develop into remarkable young adults is truly indescribable. Every year, I am inspired and deeply moved by the resilience, determination, and passion of everyone involved in VICTA’s events.
If you’re considering attending an event as either Participant or Volunteer, you’re promised to have an amazing experience!
Bethany MacDonald
Hi, I’m Beth! I started volunteering with VICTA almost 8 years ago, when I started working for Highfield Group and in the past year I have been lucky enough to be asked to become a member of the Senior Volunteer team.
VICTA has such a special place in my heart, and is genuinely one of the best things iv ever done. The amount of support given to families with children and young adults who are VI is phenomenal. And the amount of joy and opportunities it’s brings these children and young people is why I love it so much and I hope to keep volunteering for years to come. I would recommend to anyone who is thinking about volunteering to give it a go, it may be the best thing you ever do.
Over the years I have done many events with VICTA, including multiple family weekends, early years programmes, fundraising and awareness events, summer camps and even an international trip to Italy! I have also met the most amazing people through volunteering and created friendships that will last a lifetime. Volunteering to me is so rewarding and I couldn’t recommend it enough!
Sage Crofts
Hi I’m Sage, I’ve been volunteering with VICTA for about four years and I’ve loved every minute! I started volunteering because I wanted to do something meaningful in the VI community whilst also having a lot of fun.
The participants never fail to inspire me and seeing them grow in confidence throughout the activities is very rewarding. The VICTA staff and volunteers are extremely welcoming and supportive and make returning a no brainer. I absolutely love everything that VICTA does and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.
Alex Day
Hi my name is Alex, I’ve been volunteering for VICTA since October 2023.
I decided to become a volunteer as I am visually impaired myself and attended a VICTA trip which really helped me to grow as a person and empower me to not let my disability define me and I wanted to give that experience back to other visually impaired and blind people.
