Volunteers are wonderful! Millions of volunteers regularly give their time up and down the country and organisations across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors depend on them to do many things.

Volunteers’ week, from June 1 to 7, celebrates all their wonderful work and generosity.


This year is the 30th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week.


Society benefits greatly from volunteers. Organisations use volunteers to be able to do more than they would have done otherwise. With their enthusiasm, volunteers help the organisations increase their skills base. Volunteers can also help fundraise for an organisation. It is great for an organisation when more people can devote time and energy into raising money.


And what’s in it for the volunteers? Val Ireland, volunteering advisor at the Volunteer Centre, Oxfordshire says: “Volunteering changes lives, literally. I have seen it with my own eyes. I’ve talked to people who have said that if it hadn’t been for volunteering they may not have survived.”
Even if you do not want your whole life changed by volunteering here are just a few reasons why it is a good idea.


If you are looking for work it is something to put on your CV helping to fill any gaps you may have, it impresses potential employers, you can learn new skills and improve skills you already have, it can improve your literacy and numeracy, help to improve your confidence, and you may be able to get qualifications, plus it can increase your social circle and stop you being isolated.


It is also lots of fun and gives you a warm, cosy feeling of having achieved something worthwhile. Volunteering in a local organisation can give you a sense of belonging and can also help introduce you to a new circle of friends.


So how can you go about volunteering? There are lots of charities and organisations around Oxfordshire which need volunteers, here are a few ways to find out about them:


You can contact the Volunteer Centre in Oxford to arrange a visit. The Volunteer Centre is part of Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and the address is The Old Court House, Floyds Row, St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1SS. Tel: 01865 251946 or email: vol@ocva.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCVAoxon


There is also a national volunteering website with lots of opportunities which you can search for by town, postcode and interest, at www.do-it.org.uk