In Celebration of Volunteers and Charities

Across D2N2 Stakeholder Managers work closely with the voluntary and community sector and actively promote volunteering as a pathway to good.  Celebrating Volunteers Week and Small Charities Week will be done differently in 2020, but celebrate we will!

We might remember 2020 as the year when volunteers stepped in.  Truth is, they were always “in”.  2020 was actually the year when volunteers were most noticed and most appreciated.   Throughout the Covid-19 crisis volunteers have demonstrated courage, assertiveness, teamwork, organisational ability and a whole host of skills which have been recognised and appreciated.   Marvellously, all of these skills and qualities (communication, responsibility, teamwork and innovation) are directly transferable to the workplace.

Volunteering can provide career experience
Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organisation that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organisations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.

Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills
Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counsellor while volunteering for a women’s shelter

Becoming a volunteer is an empowering process, which builds confidence to help to bring about positive change.  Volunteers also have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide, which allows society to thrive.  Volunteering is good for the soul, and it’s a good addition to a CV, providing unique experiences to write about and talk about.  Importantly, the process of volunteering enables people to gain a sense of personal satisfaction.

• Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.
• Volunteering increases self-confidence.
• Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Doing good for others and the community provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Volunteering can also give us a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
• Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety (link: The Mood-Boosting Power of Pets).
• Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy.

Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

Bear in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude.

Small Charity Week 2020 will kick off with I ♥ Small Charities Day on 15th June. This is a day to raise awareness of the work of all small charities across the UK.  This year NAVCA are supporting the day.

To be kept up to date with all Small Charity Week news make sure you are signed up to the Small Charity Week mailing list by emailing: info@smallcharityweek.com and follow @SCWeek2020 on Twitter.  VISIT the SMALL CHARITY WEEK website

READ MORE HERE about Nottingham Community & Voluntary Service’s campaign to celebrate their local volunteers response to the coronavirus pandemic

FIND OUT MORE about Derbyshire County Council’s Volunteer Passport – free training for Derbyshire residents who volunteer or are thinking of volunteering

TAKE PART in Derbyshire County Council’s survey on the future of voluntary and community provision

SAY THANK YOU to to a #NottinghamStar during Volunteers’ Week

WATCH this short video highlighting the work of volunteers at the Derby Food Bank Forum

Find your local volunteer opportunities in Derby and Derbyshire
Derbyshire by area
Amber Valley Community & Voluntary Service
Bolsover Together (temporary service provided by Bassetlaw CVS)
Community Action Derby
Derbyshire Dales Council for Voluntary Services
High Peak Community & Voluntary Support
The Volunteer Centre Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire

Find your local volunteer opportunities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire Community Support Hub~
Ashfield Voluntary Action
Bassetlaw Community & Voluntary Service
Giving for Gedling
Mansfield Community & Voluntary Service
Newark & Sherwood Community & Voluntary Service
Nottingham Community & Voluntary Service
Rushcliffe Community & Voluntary Service
Voluntary Action Broxtowe