What makes volunteering so amazing?
It’s Volunteers’ Week 2024. An annual celebration of all things volunteering and a chance to say thank you. With an estimated 23 million volunteers in the UK (Community Life Survey) that’s a lot of people to thank…
To celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2024, we’re sharing some stories from our friends, clients, and colleagues about how volunteering makes such a big difference.
North West Air Ambulance Charity
“I’ve been a volunteer for as long as I can remember. My mum was always a volunteer (still is) and I tagged along as “helper” from a young age. From youth mentor, to playworker, to sports volunteer, administrator, committee member, and now a trustee, I’ve experienced and loved a lot of volunteer roles for over 20 years, and I don’t think I’ll ever give it up.
“Not only has volunteering made me feel good, given me skills, and helped me build resilience and confidence, but I also know I have made a tangible difference to the people, communities, and charities that I’ve served as a volunteer. How amazing is volunteering!”
I’m now in the very privileged position to serve as the Head of Volunteer Engagement at the North West Air Ambulance charity. Ensuring our volunteers have an exceptional experience is really important to me, and to the charity.
Regardless of their role or the skills they bring, my team and I are dedicated to supporting our volunteers and harnessing the incredible power of volunteering to aid our life-saving mission. They are all amazing and the charity wouldn’t be here without them. Happy Volunteers Week!”
Helen Doward, Head of Volunteer Engagement
Enquire here about becoming a volunteer at North West Air Ambulance
Altrad
“Volunteering has always been an important part of my life. It is a way for me to give back to the guiding and scouting community that was there for me when I was growing up. As a volunteer with the Renfrew Town Sea Scouts, I enjoy watching kids get the opportunity to sail, kayak, paddleboard, and attend water sports camps.
I also join camps as part of the cook team, which is always a lot of fun as we all get to reminisce about our favourite camp food – mine is French toast for breakfast, with tomato ketchup on the side.
“At Altrad we support the communities where we operate, from visits to our facilities to going into schools and assisting teachers with specific projects, so it is great that I also get time during work hours to foster these relationships with potential engineers of the future.”
“Through my volunteering, both with the Sea Scouts and our STEM work at Altrad, I aim to support the community and give young people the chance to discover new interests and skills, but where it’s also about having fun and enjoying the adventure.”
Tracey Rundell, Head of Marketing and Communications, Altrad
Volunteering for Age UK
“About five years ago, I was reading a magazine with an article about how helping others was a way to help yourself. It gave different ideas for volunteering, and one option was to become a phone friend for Age UK, to help older people who might be lonely and isolated by giving them a regular call for a chat.
I’m quite chatty, so I decided to sign up and complete the training.”
“Age UK quickly matched me with a lady called Audrey to be my ‘phone friend’ and I was given some basic insights into Audrey’s interests – gardening, baking, books. A good match I thought - we should have plenty to chat about! Audrey was already in her mid-90s when I began calling her.”
I expected to have a nice chat in my weekly phone calls with Audrey, but what I hadn’t anticipated was meeting someone with such an incredible life and stories and wisdom to share. Audrey had seen it all and had travelled the world, and at almost 100 when she died last year, she was as fun and feisty as any of my friends today – it was a joy to call her each week (for almost 4 years in the end) and gave me such a different perspective on things, and life lessons I think I will always keep with me.
Without volunteering I would never have met such an interesting person, and every week, as I was putting the phone down, I could always hear Audrey saying ‘thanks for calling me, chick’. I really did feel I was making a difference to her week. And of course, she was also making a difference to mine.”
Sarah Klaveness, Director of Really Good Things
Saint Francis Hospice
“I work for one of the largest adult hospices in the UK and our volunteers make a special difference to local people in desperate need of experienced hospice care.
We rely heavily on our team of skilled and committed volunteers of over 650 kind-hearted people who add huge value to our charity, helping us to keep our costs down and our doors open. The types of roles vary from healthcare assistants, fundraising helpers, shop assistants, receptionists, warehouse packers, gardeners and drivers.”
“Anyone can get involved and we encourage people with specific skills to get in touch too, such as photography and videography. We are so grateful to each and every one of our volunteers!”
You can find out more about volunteering at Saint Francis Hospice here.
Jules Knowler, Head of Marketing and Communications
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
“Volunteers are at the heart of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. When visitors come to the House, almost everyone they meet will be a volunteer and we simply couldn’t exist without them.
From the welcome at the ticket desk via the accessible room interpretation and the award-winning garden, to being served a cup of tea and recommended a book to buy, our volunteers support the House across all these areas and more. Indeed, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House wouldn’t have existed without the tenacity of volunteers who worked to save and restore this Grade II* building, and it’s thanks to them that we are celebrating our 10-year anniversary of opening to the public this year.”
“From my perspective, the fantastic visitor feedback we get reflects our volunteers’ enthusiasm and dedication.
As a very small staff team, we couldn’t have done half the projects we have in the past 10 years without the support of our volunteers, and for this, I offer a heartfelt thank you!“
Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd, Director at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House - a historic house and museum in Manchester.
You can find out about volunteering at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House here.
St John Ambulance Cymru
“I first joined St John Ambulance Cymru as a Cadet at age 10. I struggled making friends in school and as an autistic person found the transition from primary to secondary school difficult. Joining as a volunteer outside of school gave me a ‘purpose’ and showcased that life is broader than just school. It also felt important to learn such essential skills and meet other young people interested in similar things.”
“I’ve stuck with volunteering for St John Ambulance Cymru because it has opened so many doors for me, for example, I am now National Cadet of the Year for Wales.
It has really pushed me out of my shell, allowing me to meet so many amazing people from all walks of life, learn fundamental skills (also social skills), attend exciting events and participate in fun activities like cadet camps and training days.”
“Volunteering has really helped me get comfortable talking to others, I feel prepared for any of the events life may throw at me and it’s made me a much more well-rounded person. It has helped me secure a part time job and enhanced my confidence.
I genuinely cannot recommend volunteering enough, it has had hugely positive impacts on my life and broadened my horizons greatly as a young person.”
Ali, volunteer at St John Ambulance Cymru
Read more about how to become a volunteer with St John Ambulance Cymru
Warrington Wolves Community Foundation
“I’ve lived in Warrington for over 30 years, and whilst I didn’t mind Rugby League, I’d have never actively sought it out. So, meeting The Warrington Wolves Community Foundation in 2019, a sporting charity situated just four miles from my home was a bit of a revelation.
My introduction was to the Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL); this ensures continued opportunities for people born with disabilities, or those with a life-changing prognosis, or accidents, to play Rugby League.”
“I started to volunteer at the weekly training sessions and completed my first aid and mental health first aid training so that I could help out on match days too. As a result, I found my own physical and mental health started to improve too.”
“Grand Final September 2021 was the first time I’d even been on a team coach, the first time I felt like I was a part of something really special, and the first time I realised that the very small part I play as a volunteer first aider/team welfare enables the Foundation to do what they do. Volunteering in this sport is incredible and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it.”
Helen Hall, volunteer with Warrington Wolves Community Foundation
Find out more about volunteering in sport here
Really Good Things is a specialist insights, strategy, and communications consultancy.
We have a huge amount of specialist experience in social value and working with companies to start employee volunteering programmes, to develop corporate charity partnerships, and well as working with charities on volunteer recruitment and retention campaigns and strategies.