Saddique’s story
What is your role with Victim Support?
I’m a Community Volunteer.
When did you start volunteering with Victim Support?
1976. I remember the date as it was when my second daughter was young.
What inspired you to volunteer, and what keeps you volunteering with Victim Support?
Forty years ago I was a bus driver in Bradford and people always came up and told me stories about them or their families being victims of crime. In those days it was mainly burglary, theft and criminal damage.
One day, on my day off, I decided to go to the police station to see what could be done, and that’s where I saw a small notice for Victim Support. At that time, very few people from my community spoke English, which was a big part of the reason I wanted to help. I’ve always imagined that it could be my own family needing help and that inspires me to help others. I have never got tired of it.
What are your main duties as a volunteer?
I sit there and talk to them. There could be something they couldn’t say in the beginning but when you take the time to talk to them, they can.
What skills and experience do you bring to the role?
I have 40 years of experience with Victim Support. I am a family man; I have five children (three daughters and two sons), 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I came to Bradford from Pakistan in the early 1960s. I started work in the mill, where I stayed for 14 years, before getting a job working on the buses for 27 years. I have also held various voluntary positions in addition to Victim Support, including being a school governor, volunteering for the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels, and teaching English, Arabic and Urdu both from home and at the mosque.
What have you gained from your volunteering experience?
I feel I have gained the strength to deal with any matter, either through my experience or with the help of others. I have gained a lot of knowledge and now have the confidence to deal with any kind of case.
What would you say to people thinking about volunteering with Victim Support?
It’s a good job! You have to be patient and a good listener.
What three words would you use to describe your volunteering experience at Victim Support?
Breaking down barriers.
What are your volunteering highlights?
I can’t really choose any specific highlights; it all means so much to me. However, being accepted as a volunteer in the first place did mean a lot to me.
If you want to volunteer for Victim Support like Saddique, find out how you can get involved on our volunteering pages.