It’s day 4 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.
Cassandra’s Story
As well as being Chair of the PTA at a local primary school, Cassandra helps to run an arts and crafts group in Tinkers Bridge. The group of 25 – 42 people meet each Thursday during term time and focus on different activities each time.
Cassandra was keen to find something that kept her busy, through volunteering she has found something that has allowed her to get out of the house, meet new people and learn from individuals who she would have otherwise never met. She says, “there is something really special about meeting people from different background, and not only talking with them, but also achieving things together – no matter how small the goal.”
Ultimately, Cassandra wanted to be able helping other people as much as she had been helped through her life – and volunteering provided the ideal opportunity. There have been some rather unexpected results of Cassandra’s commitment to volunteering. In the last year, she has won two awards, including the Unsung Hero Award from Langland Community School.
As well as opening her eyes to different people, her experience of volunteering has also introduced her to the local support networks with different agencies, which has enabled her to learn more. Before volunteering, she would often feel lonely, she never knew where to point people but now she has built solid relationships, she has learned more about local groups and she now knows where to signpost others to and is kept up to date with any developments.
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