SUFFOLK’S voluntary sector, business and public sector communities are uniting today to launch a unique ‘Legacy Approach’ to the The Big Help Out.
Details of the national Big Help Out rallying call were confirmed on Monday, with people across the UK being encouraged to come forward to volunteer with charities and community groups throughout the weekend of May 5th – 8th.
Suffolk will also be using the coming weeks to appeal for more individuals, businesses, schools and communities to get involved in any way they can, in support of the celebrations to mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation.
To do so, anyone interested in finding a single event, project, or role during The Big Help Out weekend, will be able to source opportunities via the Volunteer Suffolk website.
However, Suffolk’s passionate commitment to volunteering will not stop at this one weekend.
Instead, a legacy campaign of ‘kickstarting’ an ongoing charitable and causal commitment within the region, will see Community Action Suffolk spearhead a special ‘I Pledge….For Volunteering’ initiative.
On the weekend of the King’s Coronation, a new Pledge web presence will be available to see all businesses, causes and groups who have pledged to volunteer, to support volunteering, or even to develop a staffing policy around volunteering.
The ‘I Pledge…For Volunteering’ initiative will run between Friday 5th May and Wednesday 7th June, which coincides with the last day of Volunteering Week across the UK.
In those weeks, it is hoped that hundreds of groups, charities, organisations, communities, schools and individuals will have confirmed a pledge, in the interest of supporting the success of volunteering in Suffolk.
It could be as simple as someone committing to weekly volunteering at their local park run, to become a trustee, or just to sign up to Volunteer Suffolk. It could equally be a company owner implementing an Employer Supported Volunteering scheme (ESV), or a business leader volunteering the use of their building or grounds to host charity events a year.
The important message is that this is creating a legacy approach to a volunteering commitment in Suffolk, and that pledges can not only involve someone actively doing a traditional volunteer role, but that they may come from people wishing to donate, fund, or act in such a way which contributes to a long-term culture of volunteering – hence the message ‘FOR Volunteering’.
Chris Abraham, Community Action Suffolk’s Chief Executive, said: “Ever since the announcement of the national concept of The Big Help Out, we have been delighted to think that the Coronation marks an opportunity to get more people thinking about, and involved in, volunteering.
“However, here in Suffolk, we want to go further. We know we have so many leaders, communities and causes which could collectively and enthusiastically come together to pledge something for the longer term.
“We want a campaign of several weeks which really kickstarts people changing the way they view their opportunity to do something which is FOR volunteering.”
Organisations across the county including Suffolk County Council are all set to be involved in spreading the message in support of the county’s legacy campaign.
Councillor Bobby Bennett, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Communities at Suffolk County Council, added: “The Big Help Out gives us all a chance to experience volunteering and make a real difference in our communities.
“No matter what you are good at, there are volunteering opportunities to suit everyone. If you can spare a day, or even just an hour, it can make a big difference, and you may find something that you really enjoy doing. The more of us who join in, the bigger help we can be.”
Pledges can be made from 5th May and further information can be found here: www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/thebigsuffolkpledge
In the meantime, anyone seeking a volunteer commitment for the Coronation weekend in Suffolk, or wanting to take on something longer term, or register an opportunity, should go to www.volunteersuffolk.org.uk
Further enquiries about how a business or organisation can become a campaign supporter should go to [email protected]
Details of more events, specific to the business community, will be taking place in the lead-up to the launch of the Legacy Pledge. You can see further information about Community Action Suffolk at www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk