I WOULD describe the Alkira Centre as a club where people with intellectual disabilities go to be with their friends. Alkira is almost 60 years old and provides training to more than 150 people in the arts, further education, health and fitness, personal development, recreation and leisure, and vocational skills.

Many of our clients are exceptionally talented in one area, but struggle in another. Our staff help them in those areas where they struggle. By assisting with the small things, we achieve great things.

Volunteering is a mutually beneficial partnership and I get a lot of it. The joy that people with intellectual disabilities give you is unconditional. Our clients are straightforward people who demonstrate interest in the world around them and want to celebrate and share their lives.

I help Alkira with fund-raising events, such as the Alkira Sky Festival, which will be held in March next year. We ask the community to sponsor our staff, who volunteer to do a tandem parachute jump. Now in its third year, we hope to double last year’s amount raised to $20,000.

I would encourage anyone who is interested in helping others to volunteer at Alkira. It’s a wonderful organisation and I really do feel my efforts are going into something that will benefit generations to come.

Some of the people who founded Alkira in the 1950s are still involved with the centre today. This contributes to the fantastic sensation I feel of belonging to something that is much bigger and older than I am.

Alkira operates from various sites in Whitehorse. For more information, visit alkira.org.au