Kevin Parrott's Story

Every year the CSV Action Network at BBC Local Radio helps tens of thousands of people to get involved with their local community. For Kevin Parrott, this meant overcoming significant personal barriers. He now helps others to do the same… 

"It all started when a friend asked me if there was a dream job I would like to do and I said that I'd always wanted to work at a radio station.  I didn't think anymore of it until a volunteering opportunity came up with the CSV Action Network at BBC Radio Cornwall.

I spent a very happy four months there. I made lots of new friends and also learned what it’s like to put a programme on the air.  I was often asked my opinion on news stories and was interviewed about disability issues. For the first time I felt I had a role to fulfil. People valued me.

I now do presentation work for the Time for Change Advocacy group. I was also invited to become the Disability Advocate for Cornwall County Fire Brigade.

None of this would have been possible without the volunteer work I was given by CSV.  It boils down to one thing really, and that is the immense gratitude I have for CSV for having the courage and conviction to give me a fighting chance and for saying ‘Yes you can’ instead of ‘No you can't’."