Volunteering can be brilliant - offering structure, purpose, connection and confidence. For many autistic people, the right voluntary role can be a lifeline. But it’s just one part of the inclusion puzzle.
This week’s story about Tom Boyd, a 28-year-old autistic man, highlights what can happen when volunteering is offered in isolation. Tom volunteered at Waitrose for over four years, giving more than 600 hours of his time. But when his family asked whether a few paid hours might be possible, he was told he could no longer volunteer at all.
Before we dive into this week’s newsletter, a reminder about my upcoming FREE masterclass on 5th Nov…
From awareness to action - The missing link in neurodiversity at work
Wednesday 5th November 12:00-13:00 BST (online)
Join me to explore why so many neurodiversity initiatives stall at awareness and learn practical, confidence-building steps to create lasting change. Perfect for HR and EDI leaders, neurodiversity network leads, and allies who want to move from good intentions to real impact.
And it will be recorded and sent to those who register if you can’t make it.
Today I’m talking about:
Info: Why volunteering isn’t enough on its own, and what this story reveals about inclusion and progression
Tips: How to ensure volunteering schemes are part of a broader inclusion strategy
Recommendations: Tools and ideas to build more joined‑up, enabling systems
One piece of the puzzle
This isn’t just a story about a single decision. It reflects a deeper issue: the idea that inclusion can be reduced to a single act - a policy, a training session, a volunteering opportunity - rather than a living, responsive culture.
For autistic people, inclusion might mean flexible recruitment, sensory-friendly environments, strengths-based roles and - for some - a voluntary placement to build confidence. But if that placement has no route to progression, no check-in, no option for change, it risks becoming a ceiling instead of a springboard.
That’s what Tom’s experience shows. When he asked for more, not a demand, just a question, the response wasn’t to explore or adapt. It was to end the arrangement altogether. And while Waitrose has since offered for him to return, it raises important questions about how we think about progression, recognition, and readiness.
Volunteering should open doors, not close them
There’s nothing wrong with volunteering. For many people, it’s the right fit. But it needs to be part of something bigger - a joined-up approach that values current contribution and supports next steps.
Volunteering should never be the only option available. Nor should it disappear the moment someone asks for more responsibility or fair pay. That’s not a sign of overstepping. It’s a sign of growth.
And when that moment comes, we need systems that can flex.
Practical Tips: Making volunteering part of real inclusion
Here’s how organisations (and those running volunteering programmes) can ensure that volunteering supports inclusion, and doesn’t limit it:
Build progression into your programme. If someone is thriving, ask: what could this lead to next?
Check in regularly. Not just about performance, but about goals, interests and readiness to do more.
Bridge the gap to paid work. Offer trials, training, or supported shifts, particularly when someone is already contributing consistently.
Review your offer. Is volunteering the only route for disabled or neurodivergent people? If yes, that needs rethinking.
Think systemically. Volunteering, like policy or awareness training, is just one part. Inclusion only works when all the parts connect.
Recommended Resources
Masterclass: From awareness to action - The missing link in neurodiversity at work
Wednesday 5th November 12:00-13:00 BST - Join me to explore why so many neurodiversity initiatives stall at awareness and learn practical, confidence-building steps to create lasting change. Perfect for HR and EDI leaders, neurodiversity network leads, and allies who want to move from good intentions to real impact.
Neurodiversity jobs
A UK job board designed for neurodivergent jobseekers - all employers listed commit to inclusive practices.
neurodiversityjobs.co.uk
Final thought
Inclusion isn’t one thing. It’s not just a welcome mat, it’s what happens after someone walks through the door.
Volunteering can be a powerful part of the mix. But only when it leads somewhere.
Thanks for reading, and for all you’re doing to help build systems that work for everyone.
Jess
PS Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:
Join the waitlist for our NeuroNavigator® programme and become a certified Neurodiversity Champion or Ally. Doors open in November for our next cohort (January 2026), waitlist access available now!
Want me to speak or run a workshop in your organisation? Head here to book a chat and make a plan.
Book a FREE Discovery call to chat through how I can support your workplace, your school or your family.
PPS Here's what someone said about a training session I delivered last week… "It’s so great to see a session that is so inclusive - not just in terms of content but delivery as well.” |