Volunteers are vital for charities and similar organisations to operate.

Think of food banks, charity shops, heritage attractions, youth work, good neighbour schemes – without volunteers they probably wouldn’t be here.

However, since coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a marked decrease in people volunteering.

This has been noticed by Voluntary Action South West Surrey, a charity itself, that sees people who seek to volunteer and who gives them help and advice to find a role that will suit.

It also supports more than 300 organisations and charities in need of volunteers, by promoting the many different roles they have as well as giving them advice on topics such as managing their own volunteers and fundraising.

“The four-year Volunteer Connections project has been funded by the National Lottery…”

With the aim to increase the level of volunteering among small charities and voluntary organisations across south-west Surrey, and to enable them to work more efficiently, Voluntary Action has a new support project called Volunteer Connections.
The project’s co-ordinators are Alice Sheppard and Kate Jones.
Alice Sheppard said: “The four-year Volunteer Connections project has been funded by the National Lottery’s reaching communities fund and gives us the opportunity to help groups to be more proficient in managing their volunteers, as well as encouraging volunteering among under-represented groups.

“The benefits people can enjoy while volunteering their time are unmistakable…”

Kate Jones said: “The benefits people can enjoy while volunteering their time are unmistakable. You can learn new skills, make new friends, it’s good for your physical and mental health, can improve your confidence, connect with your community, feeling good about giving something back, and valuable work experience if your aims are to find a paid job.

To find out more, whether you are keen to undertake some volunteering or are a local organisation or charity that would like some help and support, call Alice on 07936 364336, email a.sheppard@vasws.org.uk or Kate on 07513 825132, email k.jones@vasws.org.uk

Office: 01483 504626
E-mail: info@vasws.org.uk
www.voluntaryactionsws.org.uk