Step forward and make a difference (From The Oxford Times)

Step forward and make a difference

2:32pm Tuesday 27th January 2009 in Search By Gill Oliver

There is less money to buy new clothes or go on holiday and the economic forecast looks gloomy. But, incredible though it may seem, psychologists claim that the best way to feel better is to help someone else out.

It is true that if you are stressed about losing your job and struggling to meet rising bills, giving up your free time without being paid might seem crazy.

But there is mounting evidence that volunteering is the perfect antidote to the negative parts of our lives, as it can help us feel better about ourselves and our capabilities.

In his book The Healing Power of Doing Good, Allan Luks cites medical and scientific proof of physical and mental benefits associated with volunteering, including a heightened sense of well-being and a stronger immune system.

More excitingly, Allan discovered the existence of the ‘helper’s high’, a rush of good feeling caused by the sudden, powerful release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, similar to that felt by people who exercise regularly.

He should know. Allan has spent 30 years working with leading charities in America and is convinced that thinking about others is the key to a happy and long life.

And if you are still not convinced, there is proof that volunteering is not just good for your health, but can do positive things for your bank balance too.

A survey carried out by Time Bank and Reed Executive showed that 73 per cent of employers would choose a candidate who had volunteering experience over one without. Also, a whopping 94 per cent of employers think volunteering adds to an employee’s skills, making them more useful to a company.

On a practical basis, you are likely to come into contact with a much wider range of people, something that can offer you great networking possibilities.

Then there is the fact that it can help boost your confidence and learn how to handle new situations. And, assuming you are happy to make a regular commitment, most charities will happily pay for you to go on training courses to learn new skills that will be useful in your professional life, too.

By the time you add that little lot onto your CV, you will realise that it is absolutely true when they say you get back more than you give.

Thoroughly enjoyed Midnight supermarket dashes and soggy tents are a few of the experiences that Caz Wenzel Bray, a lecturer at Abingdon and Witney College, has relished as a volunteer leader in Scouting.

“Eight years ago when we were living in Carterton, I wanted my son Brad to join a Beaver Scout colony run at his school in Witney.

“They had no places, but said if I became a leader, he could join. I did, and found I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“After three years, I worked with Cubs for four years and I am now becoming involved with Explorers, the section for 15-18-year-olds. Parents place their youngsters in our care, and it is a big deal because you are responsible for their health, safety and happiness.

“When we take them camping, computers, Play Stations and Xboxes are left at home. To see kids who would normally be glued to the TV building dens, collecting firewood, washing-up and cooking over open fires is amazing.

“There are stressful moments, misunderstandings and tearful children to deal with on occasion, but you learn to cope.

“I’ve been impressed with the training and we have a laugh on the adult leader courses at Youlbury campsite.

“Who wouldn’t want to wake up in a tent with four other people and find your sleeping bag floating in two inches of water!

“One weekend we were sent off at 11pm to buy food. There we were at midnight, racing up and down the aisles in Sainsbury’s.

“As a leader you can do the same activities as the youngsters — archery, shooting, abseiling, zip wire, climbing and it’s a lot of fun.

“I felt immensely proud to receive my wooden leader’s beads a year ago. Only people who have completed their training and have a certain amount of experience are eligible.

“You forget about the stresses and strains of life when you are in that environment and for a young person to come up and say: ‘That was cool,’ is fantastically therapeutic.”

For more information about the Scouting movement and how to volunteer, visit www.scouts.org.uk

Sue Mulliss, group manager for a national contract caterer, is kept busy fundraising for a breast cancer charity in her spare time.

She got involved with the Witney Fundraising Team of the Oxfordshire charity Against Breast Cancer after her best friend, whose mother died from breast cancer, asked for her support.

Sue, who lives in Carterton, said: “There is a great camaraderie among the women on the team. All of us have been affected by breast cancer in some way, either losing a loved one, or knowing people who have died, and we all feel that raising the funds to find a vaccine against this dreadful disease is so important.

“The nice thing is that we have a good time while raising the money. In Witney, our fundraising is incredibly well-supported.

“We hold Witney in the Pink Day each year, when we turn the town into a sea of pink balloons and have a street collection, stalls and entertainment, which raise around £5,000.

“Witney has a population of around 20,000 and we are proud that we have such sterling support in the town.

“In tandem with Pink Day, we organise a ‘best dressed window on a pink theme’ competition for shops and businesses and get a wonderful response.

“You can walk around Witney on Pink Day and the whole place is ‘pink’ and there’s such a good atmosphere.

“Over the last couple of years, we have raised more than £55,000 from the events organised by the Witney team, which also includes craft sales, fashion shows, coffee mornings and bridal fairs.

“It gives you a great feeling knowing that £35,000 pays the annual wage of an Against Breast Cancer researcher.

“Our team are all very busy career women but we are happy to devote some of our spare time to raising money for the charity. We all get a lot from it.”

Twice a week, Jane Greenwood, who works at a wildlife hospital and lives near Thame, pulls on a stout pair of shoes to become a volunteer dog walker at the Blue Cross animal centre at Lewknor.

“I had a really special connection to a friend’s dog and when she died about a year ago, it left a really big hole in my life.

“I wasn’t in a situation to have an animal of my own, but thought about offering to help out at the Blue Cross.

“About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and I found one of the things that really got me through the ordeal was walking.

“Taking dogs out is brilliant and I find that with them I will walk places where I wouldn’t walk on my own. It has really built up my strength and improved my health.

“There are a couple of incidents that stick in my mind. One was Christmas morning when I took one of the dogs out. Strolling around a field, there was nobody in sight, the sun was shining, church bells ringing and I thought: ‘This is amazing.’ “After I took him back, they asked me if I minded playing with a puppy for a while. I sat on the floor with him and after about 20 minutes of activity he pottered over, looked up into my face, climbed into my lap and fell asleep.

“I sat there thinking that this is what Christmas should be. Not stressing out over Brussels sprouts and whether the turkey was defrosted. It was the most special moment.”

If you would like to help The Blue Cross, contact regional volunteering manager Emma Vickers on 07990 671738, or e-mail emma.vickers@bluecross.org.uk If you feel inspired to have a go at volunteering, the best place to start is Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action.

OCVA’s volunteer centre works with more than 300 not-for-profit organisations in the county, including Oxfam, Save the Children, The British Red Cross, Helen and Douglas House, the RSPCA, Age Concern, British Heart Foundation, the RSPB and Cancer Research UK.

It matches up volunteers with the right opportunity for them and can help you decide on the most appropriate organisation and role to make best use of your skills.

There is a myriad of different areas where you can help, from lending a hand in a charity shop, being a driver, helping people learn to read, clearing conservation land, or manning a reception area for a few hours.

And, whatever you prefer, whether it is working with children, senior citizens, those who are disabled, or animals, OCVA will point you in the right direction.

You can either pop in to have a chat with them at their offices in Oxford, call them on 01865 251946, or visit the website at www.oxnet.org.uk