Eleanor Gingell

Tell us a little bit about yourself…

I'm Eleanor Gingell from Milton Keynes and I'm a Chartered Member.  I'm Senior Policy Planner in a Local Authority.

What encouraged you to get involved in Planning Aid England?

I was encouraged by my first ever manager to get involved with Planning Aid to try to understand planning from a different perspective and encourage critical reflection over what we do in the workplace.

What kinds of activities have you been involved in so far?

Project planning, training, giving advice, supporting the coordinator, meeting Local Authorities, facilitating meetings, adapting presentations, assisting with questionnaires, developing new ways to help communities...and anything else that comes my way!

The beauty of volunteering is that no two groups are the same, and no two sessions are the same.

How has your volunteering helped your professional development?

It's a chance to give unbiased,impartial advice...and like my manager said all those years ago, reflect on what we do "in the day job". The beauty of volunteering is that no two groups are the same, and no two sessions are the same. This means that you're always having to find new ways to answer questions, give advice and adapt to new situations.

Do you have any tips or advice for anyone thinking about volunteering?

Only take on projects that interest you or you'll come to resent it. On cold, dark, winter evenings it can be tempting to hide at home. Taking on projects that you're interested in and enthusiastic about can really help to find the energy to keep going!

Finally, don't be afraid to say "No"...there will be times when real life happens; this is part of being a volunteer and you're no less important just because you couldn't make a meeting!

If you're interested in volunteering for Planning Aid England...

Please see our How to apply page.