Did you know that 91% of UK charities have no paid staff or are run entirely by volunteers? Over 10,000 people volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau and the organisation values their contribution in financial terms as £76.8m! Volunteers are the fabric of the VCSE sector and this Volunteers Week, we’d like to put them in the picture and say a big thank you!
Why do people volunteer?
Many members of our team are active volunteers, giving up their free time to help support various organisations. This week we’d like to put them in the picture and say a big thank you for helping support the VSCE sector!
According to the government’s Community Life Survey 2023/4, Hampshire has higher than average levels of volunteer participation. 👏🎉. The three key motivations for volunteering listed in the same survey were:
⭐‘The cause was really important to me’ – 30%
Hear about the team’s volunteering activities!
Alongside our day jobs many of us give up their time to support the organisations they are passionate about. Read our stories below!
Anna: ‘Fostering gives me the opportunity to have a cat without the commitment or expense’
Volunteer for Cats Protection After the loss of my cat I knew I wasn’t going to want a cat of my own any time soon but I missed having a cat in the house. Fostering gives me the opportunity to have a cat without the commitment or expense. I also love working with each cat to build up their confidence and find them the right home.
Helena: ‘I was able to gain valuable experience in a different field, one that aligns with my deep passion for nature’.
Volunteer Trustee for Smart Parks My motivation to volunteer stemmed from the opportunity to use and develop my communication skills. As As a Trustee for Smart Parks I was able to gain valuable experience in a different field, one that aligns with my deep passion for nature. Volunteering also gives me a strong sense of purpose and leaves me with a ‘warm, fuzzy’ feeling, knowing that I’m contributing to a meaningful cause!
Kishor: ‘I’ve always been passionate about community development’
Volunteer Trustee for NAVCA I’ve always been passionate about community development and strengthening the social fabric through grassroots initiatives. NAVCA’s mission to support local infrastructure organisations aligns perfectly with my values. What drew me in was NAVCA’s commitment to ensuring that smaller voluntary groups and charities have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Corinne: ‘A love of Arts & Culture and a desire to use my professional experience in the voluntary sector’
Volunteer for Hampshire Cultural Trust I joined Hampshire Cultural Trust as an HR Projects Volunteer a few years ago. Having taken my kids to venues such as The Great Hall, Westgate Museum and Milestones when they were younger, I’m delighted to now be able to continue to enjoy what these venues have to offer and to hear the impact they have on health, well-being and happiness!
Looking for volunteers? If you’re looking for volunteers but don’t know where to start it’s worth contacting your local CVS. For Hampshire this is the Hampshire CVS network.
