Published: 23/07/2019 - 14:11
Recently Volunteers’ Week highlighted the huge contribution made by those that give their time freely to help their communities. Volunteers’ Week has been around since 1984 and is celebrated by large and small charities alike to thank those that make such a difference and to encourage more people to get involved.
Giving something back to the community, building skills and making new rewarding connections all contribute to our sense of wellbeing. Volunteering is good for the mind, it gives a sense of purpose which in turn helps decrease stress levels. Most importantly it’s fun.
At Share we rely on over 60 volunteers who make an incredibly positive difference to the work we do here and we wouldn’t survive without them. We also realise that taking that first step into volunteering comes with some uncertainty. That’s why we invest in giving our volunteers comprehensive support, training and recognition. In our recent volunteers’ survey 100% of respondents would recommend volunteering with us. Every single volunteer in the survey said that volunteering with us gave them a sense of satisfaction and achievement.
“I count my three years' volunteering at Share as one of the highlights of my life. I have been continually inspired by my students, their warmth, their courage and their creativity, and I have felt that as a previous volunteer said to you, 'I am my best self when I'm with them'”
“I’ve felt welcome at Share and made great connections with a lot of students. I appreciate the opportunities Share has given me to grow as a person”
“I love coming to Share, and I can't believe it has been a year since I started volunteering - long may it continue!”
We currently have a fantastic opportunity to get involved with our My Community and Me project on Thursdays and Fridays. It aims to teach practical, independent living skills out in the community, helping students to gain the confidence they need to put classroom based learning into practice. To find out more please contact Leanne Wood on 0207 801 9825 or via email on leannew@sharecommunity.org.uk.
