During her time at University, Heather, a Psychology graduate worked as a Therapeutic Care Volunteer for the James Cook University Hospital for two years in Middlesbrough.  She now works as an Assistant Psychologist at a local Mental Health Trust and says that volunteering has got her where she is today. "Volunteering was essential - it gave me the knowledge I needed about working with patients so that I could answer the questions fully at my job interview.  A working knowledge of what was expected of me as an Assistant Psychologist was really important". Heather volunteered through Volun-tees , the university programme which supports staff, students and recent graduates to engage in volunteering activities both within the local community and on volunteering programmes.  She worked at the hospital during free time between lectures and sometimes spent full days there working with a Clinical Psychologist to deliver group interventions."I was very nervous when I started volunteering but soon discovered how rewarding the work is and what a difference we as volunteers were making.  The most important thing I learned was working with people". Heather said.