Volunteering your time and skills to an organisation clearly helps that project and its users, but it can also be very beneficial to you, the volunteer.
This applies especially if you are looking for work, have health problems, or are just isolated, perhaps new to the area. Volunteering is a great way of meeting new people, boosting your self-esteem and learning new skills.
If you haven’t volunteered before, or are new to South Leeds, help is at hand in the form of Chris Bulmer. Chris works for Voluntary Action Leeds managing their volunteer centre, but you will also find him every Thursday at Dewsbury Road Community Hub between 10am-1pm. There’s no need to make an appointment, just call in.
“Volunteering is a great way to gain skills, improve health, employability and contribute to improving the lives of others” explains Chris. “We have a huge variety of different volunteering opportunities available, many in South Leeds including environmental, educational, health, advice, sport and social well-being.”
Organisations provide training and out of pocket expenses and will meet the cost of DBS check if you are working with children or vulnerable people. The number of hours you have to commit to starts from as little as two hours per week.
“I want to bring down all the barriers to volunteering” says Chris. “It’s actually very easy and accessible and there’s so much to gain from it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your background is or what skills you have there are opportunities for everyone and I can help you find the right one for you.”
The Volunteer Centre has a large database of organisations who take volunteers, but they are always keen to add to it. If your organisation would like to join Chris’s list, you can contact him on (0113) 378 8987; or email: chris.bulmer@val.org.uk
Voluntary Action Leeds also provides volunteer management support to organisations including training and a quarterly Volunteer Managers’ Network Meeting.
