Today is the start of Volunteers’ Week 2015 and all week we’ll be sharing case studies with you to highlight the many reasons people have for volunteering. We’d love you to join in too – head over to the Volunteers’ Week website to download your digital resource pack and use the hashtag #ivolunteer to share your story.
Volunteering helps people stay involved in their communities
Lynda has palindromic Rheumatoid Arthritis and sometimes when she has a flare up she can’t move and therefore is unable to work. This caused her to feel housebound and as she is an outgoing, organised person she felt wasted sat at home. She knew she could be of use to others and wanted to put something back into the community. Lynda needed something to do and as she had been a carer in her working life, knew that she wanted to support the elderly.
Lynda volunteers on behalf of Age UK Milton Keynes and helps out at Pear Tree Centre Lunch club on Wednesdays, she also lends a hand on Thursdays doing admin for handyman services. As well as that, Lynda helps at Hinton Lodge lunch club on Fridays, the Hungerford House lunch club, and at many fundraising events.
She says that she feels happier in herself and feels she is really giving something back. Lynda now says that she has “something to get up for in the mornings and now knows that she is appreciated.”
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering, give Community Action: MK a call on 01908 661623 or come along to our drop in and speak to one of our friendly, trained advisors every Thursday morning from 10am-12noon in the reception at Acorn House, 351 Midsummer Boulevard, CMK, MK9 3HP.
Alternatively, you can search for local opportunities via www.do-it.org