Sekou Shares His Time to Support Community
Sekou shares his time to support the community as we celebrate Sekou during Volunteering Week… We are highlighting a number of our students who volunteer their time to support various worthwhile causes and community projects.
Stoke on Trent College Level 1 ESOL student Sekou Sidibe is balancing his studies with donating his time to helping a beloved local charity and to improving communities in Stoke-on-Trent.
Sekou’s volunteering story…
Sekou, who is originally from Mali, has been volunteering since 2022, with roles at Etruria Industrial Museum, Westport Lake and more recently at the Dougie Mac Warehouse in Burslem.
On Thursdays and Saturdays, he helps out in the recently expanded warehouse, with a variety of activities such as sorting donations, restocking shelves and a variety of cleaning activities.
“I have volunteered before when I lived in Spain, and I always want to help out my community. I enjoy being part of the team at the Warehouse,” Sekou said.
Sarah Thomas, Head of Volunteer Services at Dougie Mac, said, “Sekou is a real asset to our Burslem team and we’re pleased that he’s chosen to volunteer his time with Dougie Mac alongside his studies.
“Volunteers are essential to the work we do at Dougie Mac, and every one of them plays an important role in the day-to-day running of the charity. As well as making a real difference to the local community, volunteering is a chance to learn new skills, meet new friends, gain life experience and grow confidence.”
On every second Friday of the month, Sekou does litter picks at the Etruria Industrial Museum as well as doing ground maintenance and planting at Westport Lake.
“I do a variety of tasks at Westport Lake. We create food paths for rabbits and help out with ground maintenance and planting. I have been volunteering here since 2022,” Sekou explained.
Sekou’s educational journey…
Sekou juggles all of these volunteering roles with his studies at Stoke on Trent College, studying Level 1 ESOL as well as recently starting a Level 1 in Plumbing Foundation. He was also recognised at the college’s annual student recognition event, Celebrating Success, in June 2024, winning the Learner of the Year for Adult English, Maths and ESOL.
Volunteers Week is a national celebration of people’s contributions to the voluntary sector, running from 2 – 8 June 2025. Launched in 1984, this initiative has been running for over 40 years, providing organisations and communities a platform to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts.
