Hospital volunteering / training – transport costs

First and foremost I'd like to start by presenting myself. I am a recent Psychology graduate, with a big dream of becoming a Clinical Psychologist one day. During the last fifteen years I worked as a Support Worker at the unit for people with the alcohol problem and also at the residential home for the learning disabilities and complex needs patients. I have also supported people with Dementia and Alzheimer, and through my whole work experience I have learned and understood that helping people is the way I would like to lead my life.

After completing my MSc in Psychology I started looking for any additional training options to pursue my dream of working as a Clinical Psychologist. As I live in a small town in Wales, I soon found out that the local options are very limited. I approached our local NHS and the University, asking for the Volunteering Assistant Psychologist posts, which I have seen on many occasions in England. I was informed that due to the shortage of staff and a large workload our NHS doesn't support this sort of opportunities. They may pop out on occasions, but are very scarce. I quickly understood that if I am serious about learning I have to be prepared to travel. I applied for the post of the Volunteering Assistant Psychologist in Northamptonshire, and fortunately I was accepted. For those of you who do not have an insight in the Clinical Psychology field, I would like to explain that the Volunteering (sometimes called an Honorary) Assistant Psychologist role comes with an intense training, and it isn't quite the same as the usual voluntary roles. The skills and knowledge I would gain through the six month of volunteering at the hospital for mentally unwell people would greatly enhanced my chances of getting to the Clinical Psychology doctorate.

The total costs for the six months (once a week) of travelling via the train from North Wales to Northamptonshire adds up to £3,042. I have to add to this amount the taxi costs, as I need to get the 4.38am train, and I have no public transport to get to the train station. If I would like to walk, it would take me around one hour and twenty minutes. The total costs for the taxi for the six months adds up to £338. The total amount I would like to collect to be able to complete my volunteering placement is £3,380.

I would like to add that I am already employed in two different jobs, as I have to support my family, and at the moment I physically cannot find any time to do any more work. I would earn the extra money without fundraising it on this platform if I only could.

In addition, if anyone would like for example arrange the ticket payments via the Trainline, so they can send me the ticket collection code instead of the money, that would work very well as well. I will accept any options which would cover the travelling costs.

Thank you for your time to read this and for any help I receive.