A new volunteering website in Suffolk has received the seal of approval from the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
Tim Passmore said the volunteer sector improved the quality of life for many people in the community and said that many would be “considerably worse off without their wonderful work.”
He praised Volunteer Suffolk, the new one-stop shop that links volunteering opportunities to volunteers on their doorstep.
He said: “Winston Churchill once said ‘you make a living by what you get but you make a life from what you give’ and for me, this sums up perfectly what Suffolk’s voluntary sector is all about.
“In my role I am privileged to see at firsthand the huge range of activities undertaken by so many volunteers who support the work of the Constabulary – from volunteers on horseback to community Speedwatch and, of course, the Special Constabulary.
“As public sector reform and improvement continues – which it must to provide better value for money – the role of the voluntary sector becomes increasingly significant.
“It’s vital there is greater co-operation and collaboration between different organisations so more can be delivered for less – which is an enormous challenge.
“The launch of this new website is an important contribution to this reforming process as it will help to fill vacancies more quickly and save everyone time and money.”
Volunteer Suffolk is a product of the Suffolk Volunteering Strategy and was made possible thanks to a steering group of representatives from Suffolk’s public, private and voluntary sectors.
Carolyn Shaw, Volunteering Manager at Community Action Suffolk, which is responsible for the website, said: “We are thrilled to have had such a positive response to the website since it launched on March 1st.
“We now have hundreds of positions advertised and are working closely with the local community to make sure we are best serving their needs.”
Volunteering opportunities, added by local organisations and charities, range from short-term and one-off roles, to temporary positions and long-term roles.
Current opportunities include being a tour guide for the Tide Mill in Woodbridge, a marshal at the Midnight Walk in aid of St. Elizabeth Hospice, preparing animal feeds at Banham Zoo and assisting with play sessions for children who have suffered from domestic abuse or violence at home.
There are also “10-minute volunteer” opportunities on offer which simply involve sharing a Facebook post to raise awareness, sourcing a raffle prize or putting up a poster at work.
The website also provides helpful volunteering tips, latest news and volunteers’ stories.
For more information visit www.volunteersuffolk.org.uk