Community Action Suffolk is welcoming the arrival of Spring by celebrating volunteering.
Over this first week of Spring we will be publishing stories, tips and information on how YOU can get involved with volunteering, why it’s such an amazing thing to do and how we can help you find the perfect volunteering opportunity.
So many people in Suffolk are generous with their time, volunteering with a huge range of local groups and organisations.
We spoke with Alex Attolini from Age UK Suffolk, about the impact made by volunteers on their charity.
“Volunteers are vital for the running of many of the Age UK Suffolk services. Thanks to them, we reach hundreds of older people in Suffolk.
Without our 300 active volunteer befrienders we would not be able to reach isolated older people in the community. Befrienders, keep company, inform, spend time with people who otherwise would have no other social contacts.
Our 40+ Local Links volunteers are spread out in the West, South and East of Suffolk and use their local knowledge to inform Age UK Suffolk about local needs while at the same time they inform older people about the services they can access at Age UK Suffolk. In today’s society where much of the information is divulged via the internet, it could be difficult for an older person to stay informed. A Local Link is the direct, ‘eye to eye’ contact for them.
The dozens of shop volunteers help ensure our shops’ trade is always vibrant. Coming back home after a hospital stay is made easier and less traumatic thanks to the many volunteers who are there to help in practical ways like cooking, shopping, etc.
Age UK Suffolk could not survive without volunteers; they are one of our main assets.”
Community Action Suffolk can help you find the perfect volunteering opportunity, whether you’ve just a couple of hours to give, or you would like to commit to something longer. Visit our volunteering pages to find out more, or contact [email protected]