Taking place between 1st – 7th June each year, Volunteers’ Week is the nation’s chance to celebrate and say a big “thank you” to the millions of volunteers that make amazing contributions to all sorts of organisations.
Here at Connexus every employee is entitled and encouraged to take 1 day per year to volunteer in the communities we serve. And many go far beyond this, with some colleagues volunteering their own time on a regular basis. We’ve had feedback that at least 28 of our colleagues volunteer in their community in various roles in their free time – scouts, school governors, ministers, sports teams etc.
People volunteer for a variety of reasons. Some enjoy the opportunity to give something back to their community or to make a difference to people around them. For other’s the experience can, to some degree, be about personal development and wellbeing, with their volunteering offering them the chance to develop new skills or build on existing knowledge and experience.
Sean volunteers at Shawbury United FC and is the First Team Assistant Manager.
“I volunteer because it’s the sport I love. I'm passionate about coaching and my ultimate goal is to go professional. For that to happen you need to do the hard yards first!
The best thing about volunteering is when you see results that come off from all the work you put in. Getting the praise for your work is always a good thing.”
Having grown up in Wem, Tom Bateson, Business Change Officer, was keen to give something back to the North Shropshire community he holds dearly. Tom volunteers his time with The Scout Organisation, helping local children learn skills, make friends and stand on their own two feet. And he’s pretty handy at putting up a tent now too!
Our Communities Manager, Jacqui Gears is happiest when out running in the hills over long distances. Always keen to promote the benefits of running (outdoors!) and the sense of wellbeing you can get from a run, Jacqui is a volunteer for her local running club. As a run leader, she regularly leads a small group for a run, showing them new routes, giving pointers to make running feel easier and just giving them confidence to get out and run, not matter what their pace.
Charities across the UK will also be holding events to thank their volunteers and celebrate the power of volunteering. Last year there were over 600 events across the country, from award ceremonies to tea parties and barbecues.
For many charities the week will be a chance to showcase the range of volunteering opportunities on offer. Volunteer fairs and other events will be encouraged people to try volunteering for the first time and help people find out how, through volunteering, they can make a difference to a cause they are passionate about.
Customer Involvement is supported by tenants who volunteer their time to provide us with an understanding what our customers expect from Connexus. As well as helping to improve our services, additional benefits of meeting and socialising with other volunteers.
You can get involved in your community; supporting our initiatives by helping us at a local event. Put forward ideas from you and your neighbours about how to improve your area or community, and where realistic, we will work with you to build good working relationships in your community and help turn the idea into a reality.
If it is a big project, you’ll need to apply to the Community Development Fund, but we can also look at working with you on smaller scale projects.
Hunderton Community Gardens Association are looking for volunteers! A chance to get outside and enjoy the Spring so if you live nearby and have some spare time to lend a hand, they would love to hear from you. Contact details are on their Facebook page.
