This week is National Volunteers Week, and I thought it appropriate to write some words about the impact and value of volunteering. Of course many of my readers will already be converted, but to those who aren't, read on!
I was brought up on volunteering, as part of my DofE and through the scouts, volunteering has always been important. Many of my friends can't understand why I would want to volunteer to work with young people, when in fact that is my career and I spend my full time work (plus 3 part time jobs), working with young people.
The truth is, I can't get enough of it.
For me, there is no greater feeling than that of helping others. Maybe I'm just wired that way, I can't do sports and I'm not particularly bright, but I have a big heart and want to save the world.
This summer, I am taking 36 young people to Japan to the world scout jamboree. Whilst there they will be meeting other young people from all over the world, and taking part in cultural activities which will see them come home as changed people. These guys are awesome. I'm not even lying. After a crap week at work, sometimes the last thing I want to do is to go and pitch tents in the dark and get cold and wet for a weekend. But once I'm there, the young people know how to cheer me up. After making me a cup of coffee, drawing me some pictures of dogs and pretend boyfriends, they soon have me in fits of laughter. Not long after, they have ingeniously found a tennis ball and started a game of catch, using one of their prosthetic legs as a bat/catching cup.
It's refreshing!
It takes me out of the office and away from the stresses of life, no worrying about work or freaking out about my mid life crisis (yes it's hit me early!).
On the flip side, as someone who runs youth clubs, I have first hand experience of the value of the volunteers who support me.
I am extremely lucky to have a team of committed and dedicated volunteers who come every week to work with the young people in the club. They give up their own time to come and do something amazing, to make young people feel good and have someone to talk to, and to give parents some respite once a week. Those 3 hours a week can make all the difference to stressed parents, and frayed young people. Just to give them a space to grow and develop and try something different, can give them a new direction in life or a boost of confidence.
Not only that, but they support me. I look forward every week to seeing my lovely volunteers with their smiley faces, and no matter what mood I am in they always seem to lift it.
Volunteering can take many forms of course, and I know that there are lots and lots of wonderful people with different skills who help me out - administrators, chefs, first aiders... All skills that I do not possess. Others are craft queens, quiz masters, and sports heroes - again, skills that I do not own!
Just to bust a myth as well, volunteers don't necessarily have lots of money or lots of time (though that would be a luxury), but they do have big hearts.
So whether you are a face to face volunteer youth worker, a scout leader, a guider, with the boys brigade or doing DofE, volunteering at a church or maybe with some older people.. Perhaps you are a trustee, or maybe you are musically minded, whatever it is you do. You do it well.
You are making someone else smile.
You are bringing joy to other people's lives.
You are special.
Thank you.
