I REPORTED to the Furniture Matters main depot on Mellishaw Lane feeling slightly apprehensive about what lay ahead.

However, I had no need to worry as volunteer support worker Paddy Shannon put me at ease straight away.

This is handy to know because many people who have been out of work, or out of school or college for a long time may feel it would be too intimidating for them.

The first thing was to get kitted out in my PPE (personal protective equipment) which consisted of dark blue overalls (freshly washed) and steel toe capped shoes.

Every volunteer has to wear these to comply with health and safety regulations and for their own safety.

Not exactly a flattering outfit but fit for purpose.

As I was to experience a morning exactly how any other volunteer would for the first time, I was given an induction by Paddy. I was handed an activity record which has to be filled in as you go along.

There are sub-sections which can be ticked off, including the history and aims of Furniture Matters, fire alarms and procedure, health and safety, safe lifting and handling, smoking, drugs and alcohol policy and so on.

Of course as I was only there for one morning it would be impossible for me to tick everything off, but it was handy to know just what volunteering involved.

Paddy was a wealth of knowledge about the charity and what it has achieved since 1997.

I came away knowing a lot more about Furniture Matters than I had before.

Each volunteer is given a comprehensive guide containing the answers to any questions you may have.

The guide is designed to help volunteers get the most out of their experience whilst working at Furniture Matters and is divided into sections such as jargon busters, what FM (Furniture Matters) do, what you can do, house rules, how to claim expenses, getting help and support at FM, confidentiality and personal security, equal opportunities and health and safety.

I started learning the lingo straight away as I had already donned my PPE at FM.

The induction process took around half an hour and is essential to put volunteers in the picture with everything and everybody involved.

After the induction it was time for a group meeting where all the volunteers come together to delegate jobs and decide who is going where and what they are doing.

The mixed group of men and women all seemed a friendly bunch and all of them were happy to be there.

It was difficult to remember everyone's names but if I was there every day I'd know them in no time.

Then it was time for a quick brew before I got down to the serious business of fixing washing machines and building computers.

The main warehouse is a huge and airy building divided into sections.

There is a section for washing machines, one for electrical goods eg fires, a separate office for building computers, and the rest is split into shelves housing washing machine parts, computer monitors and keyboards, and so on.

Some of the shelves reached to the top of the huge ceiling.

I also learned that any appliances that come in that are unsalvageable or can't be fixed, are harvested for all their spare parts until only the bare minimum that can't be used is left.

Waste not want not!

Paddy introduced me to white goods trainer Fiona Stevenson who took me through what a volunteer would do in that section.

Each washing machine that is donated to FM is brought to the giant warehouse with no history of its past use.

Therefore volunteers have to fill in a form for each machine they are reconditioning with a checklist, noting down any problems from a visual check first, and then checking the problem identified later when the machine is put through a wash and spin cycle.

Incidentally, all the water used to test the washing machines is recycled so nothing is wasted.

Fiona took me through the visual check list, reeling off a bewildering list of washing machine parts I had no idea existed, such as solenoids.

Her knowledge was comprehensive and it was obvious why she was a good choice as a white goods trainer.

The outside of the machine is checked first, the door, the door seal, the front panel, the lid, and then the back.

It is only then that the machine is opened up and each part inside is looked at.

I managed to hamhandedly unscrew the back from the washing machine we were using so we could peer inside.

Interestingly, in the metal drum there was a large groove in the metal.
Fiona explained that this was due to a pound coin being inside the clothes washed, which can cause a lot of damage.

I didn't tell her that once I had washed a pair of curtains with curtain rings in which had ruined one machine I had....won't make that mistake again...

I couldn't really do a lot else with the machine because I wasn't properly trained but it was interesting to see inside the back of the washing machine and look at the inner workings.

Fiona also showed me how to test the machine with a special device which tests the plug and electrical contacts, which has to be done for each machine.

A volunteer would need to learn how to use this PAT (portable appliance testing) machine properly.

After the checklist is completed, the washing machine needs to be tested, first on a simple wash and then on a wash and spin cycle.

Fiona tells me that some problems become evident when water pours out all over the warehouse floor.

After all the rigorous testing is completed the reconditioned machine can then be taken to the FM showroom on Alice Street in Morecambe to be sold.

Fiona tells me that a reconditioned machine sells for around £65, a great saving for people on a low income.

Although I would need a lot more training to fix my own washing machine, I felt I had learnt a lot from Fiona about washing machines, and with a lot of practice, would feel happy fixing machines myself.

Then it was time to build a PC from scratch – a frightening thought. I remembered the time lightning sent my home PC up in smoke and started to get slightly nervous about sticking my hand in the back of one and connecting all the bits myself.

Phil Crossley, the FM IT technician, was a very knowledgeable and capable trainer, happy for me to build one from scratch with his guidance.

First of all I had to screw the motherboard into the shell of the computer tower.

That was quite simple although it was a bit tricky to get the holes and the screws lined up.

Then it was time to connect everything to that – the graphics card, sound card, hard drive, memory stick, cd/dvd rom and modem.

Everything was quite simple to attach and it was very difficult to put something in the wrong place.

It took probably 20 minutes to half an hour before I had built my first pc. Whether it would be fit for purpose would be another matter – but when it was double checked and turned on, it actually worked! All reconditioned PCs from FM come with specially installed programmes as standard such as Mozilla Firefox and Open Office.

They come with a three month guarantee and cost around £35.

I couldn't believe it because the time had flown and it was 1pm already – time for me to change out of my PPE and go back to work.

I had thoroughly enjoyed myself and felt I'd learned a lot as well.

If I was out of work I would definitely give this a shot as it was a great experience.

Paddy tells me that volunteers come to them from all walks of life, from 18 to retired age.

Volunteers may be long term unemployed, ex-offenders, (not sex offenders or people who have committed murder or crimes involving children) or may have learning difficulties. All of these people are welcomed at FM and at any one time there may be 80 to 95 volunteers. At FM there are many jobs you can volunteer to do.

There is a furniture restoration project where you can act as van crew members or drivers, assisting with collecting and delivering of furniture within the community.

You can also volunteer within the warehouse and repair shop areas.
There are opportunities to work within both FM offices, one in Morecambe and one in Lancaster, doing customer service and general office work.

Work within the wood workshop and learn to repair and restore furniture, and make new garden planters and other items from recycled wood. You can learn how domestic appliances operate, how to fault find and repair common faults on washing machines, fridges, freezers and cookers.

If you are an experienced computer builder, you can join the build IT department. FM run courses in computer building periodically so give them a call if you're interested.

Work is available in the warehouse or as van crew members or drivers collecting and distributing items within the local community.

Pedal Power is based in Lancaster and you will be able to assist in the workshop or office as appropriate.

You can learn how to completely strip and dismantle bikes and then help repair, renovate and maintain them. You will also learn how to identify and use the appropriate tools whilst receiving full support.

Working at Pedal Power involves a variety of tasks.

* If you're interested in volunteering at Furniture Matters call Paddy Shannon on 427300. Visit www.furniturematters.org.uk for details.