Getting Involved in Volunteering…
We have just celebrated Volunteers Week in its 39th year, a chance to thank volunteers for their contribution to volunteering.
Have you ever thought about getting involved in volunteering but are not sure what opportunities are out there or what you have to do to get involved?
Volunteering is for everybody, there are opportunities for all ages/a wide age range. You do not have to have qualifications or skills to volunteer as full training is provided for all opportunities. This can be on the day training or run over a number of weeks and for some opportunities, accreditation and skills based certificates are offered.
You can gain so much from volunteering, whether you are looking to gain confidence, enhance your cv, gain a reference, meet new people, give something back to your community, improve your health and wellbeing or just to add structure to your day; volunteering is the way forward.
You do not have to give all of your time, this will vary on the nature of the volunteering that you are doing. It can range from one hour, a few hours or one day a week or more and is negotiable with the organisation.
We have a large range of opportunities available which can include, befriending older people, helping with sports activities, driving, gardening, fundraising, charity shops, hospital support, prison support, supporting people with substance misuse problems, teaching IT, supporting your local radio station, mentoring young people, admin and youth work.
These are just a few of the categories of volunteering. We promote a wide range of volunteering opportunities across the Vale of Glamorgan and all can be available to you.
Most of our recruiting organisations will reimburse a travel expense and some a food expense. For those on benefits, you can volunteer.
If you would like to know more about the opportunities available and how you can get involved, the next step is to contact us at GVS where a member of staff will have a chat to you about your interest in volunteering.
Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS), Tel: 01446 741706, E-mail: volunteering@gvs.wales