My Story - volunteering for a charity during COVID-19

To celebrate the first Welsh Charities Week 15th-19th November 2021, Chloe Hilldrup, matched with Age Connects through Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS) volunteering services, tells us about her volunteering experience during COVID-19.

“With things the way they are at the moment, and being furloughed from my full-time job, I was keen to get involved with something which would help others in my community during this uncertain and anxious time. Since we last spoke, I have been recruited as a volunteer with Age Connects, who assigned me to a lovely couple in Barry, who I keep in contact with and deliver food shopping to once or twice every week.

“This couple have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the help they've received from the charity and myself, and so it's has been an incredibly fulfilling opportunity for me. It's very rewarding, and I really look forward to the days where I can pop round and have a natter with them. I'm proud to be part of a community where so many others have signed up to support our neighbours, and can definitely see myself continuing with volunteer work once all this has passed.

“I'm currently pursuing a career in medicine and so this has not only been a really good experience in itself, but the enjoyment and satisfaction I get from knowing I'm making a difference in my own little way as motivated me to work even harder towards my future career. I would definitely encourage anyone who has a few hours a week spare to get involved!”

#WelshCharitiesWeek #TheBest

To find out more about volunteering in the Vale of Glamorgan, please visit Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS) website www.gvs.wales/volunteering to see a range of volunteering opportunities or e-mail: volunteering@gvs.wales for further information.