6 Ways To Be Involved In Your Community lifestyleanytime.com.au/be-involved-in-your-community/ Angie Emde
August 17, 2018
There are multiple reasons and benefits to be involved in your community. In genral, the benefit of community work often reaches far beyond the local group. Community work benefits you, your family, the direct beneficiaries and their families. The extended community, local region and even the country benefit from everyone working together on community projects and in community groups.
Additional Community Involvement Benefits In fact, the reason to be involved in your community is more than just giving and supporting. It is an opportunity to share skills and develop additional skills. Many community groups also have access to training programs in order to assist with skill development and qualifications. Naturally, the skills you learn are transferable to your workplace, your business or assist with return to work skills. Another key reason to volunteer in the community is to meet new people. In addition, you can learn a language or experience a new culture. To be involved in your community gives you the opportunity to influence change in your local area. Furthermore, community involvement has social and health benefits. For example, when you volunteer you develop your self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem which is great for mental health. The community is everything, being involved in the community is like being involved in a family. At first, it may not seem that way, however, with time as you get to know fellow volunteers in the community. You become part of the community family.
1/5
6 Reasons For Volunteering In The community 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
It is good for you as it reduces stress and increases health As a volunteer, you learn skills Volunteering strengthens the community You can give back and make a difference It saves resources It brings people together
Over the years I have been involved in many different community groups. All groups have made me feel at home while living across the other side of the world from family. It can be lonely at times not having family living nearby however, I and my family have settled quickly with the help of the friendships formed from with community groups in our local area.
How Community Connections Help Families Grow It takes a community to raise a child. Everyone has different skills and ways to communicate, this is a blessing of a community. With this in mind, it is easy to understand the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.� The advantage of participating and being part of your community is that everyone can learn from each other and help each other. Communication is a two-way street. Children learn patience and manners while waiting for a turn to speak or their turn to help. Families learn about other family 2/5
traditions. Families get the opportunity to participate and learn new skills, sports or interests. The exposure to new interests assists with social and mental well being as well as personal development. Sharing is caring is another saying often heard and this is true. Community involvement offers plenty of opportunities to dine with new friends, attend fetes, carpool to sporting events or scouting camps. Connections in the community provide positive role models, has health benefits and bestows a sense of belonging and support.
Support Your Families Activities Or Interests If you have children, you may find that where you volunteer changes as your children grow. First, you start out helping at the mum and toddler group then onto school committees and sporting groups. Some committees have big projects and this is great. Many hands with big projects make light work. Consequently, just seeing how everyone comes together to build new amenities or run a fete is fabulous. Seeing the ripple effect it has on community and youth developments is invaluable. One community I’ve always been involved in is the scouting community. Although I’m now out of uniform, I still sit on the committee and enjoy supporting fundraising events. Likewise I enjoy helping the youth grow with leadership skills. I was motivated to help in scouting as I got so much out of scouting as a youth member and my children joined scouts. Motivation to help in groups you were once part of is one way some volunteers commence volunteering. Getting to know families and people in your neighbourhood can come about from volunteering in your children’s school and within local community groups. If you are unsrue where to find your local group contact your local council.
Community Involvement With Low Commitment Is Good Too Sadly, many organizations lack volunteers or find it hard to bring in new volunteers. Unfortunately, this can lead to volunteers getting burnout due to taking on too much to keep the group that services the community going. Excuses for not helping are normally things like; lack of time, too busy at work or too busy with the business, can’t commit to a set day or too tired after work. A lot of time is not needed to be involved in your community. In fact, there are things you can do as you go about your day. Things like donating your shopping card purchases to a charity or knit beanies and socks for the homeless. You can even attend a concert or a local sporting event as a volunteer. Another way to give back to a good cause is having a haircut and donating your hair or giving blood at the blood bank.
3/5
Six Ways To Be Involved In Your Community 1. Volunteer – Offer a hand to a cause or a group you believe in. If you work and have little time ask your employer about volunteer time off. Many places of employment support charities or encourage a day off to support the local community. 2. Children’s sport or youth group – Children’s sporting or youth groups always need help. Ways to help include holding a position on the committee, assisting with transport, baking a cake, washing team shirts, helping at a fundraiser, cheering on at events. Even if you don’t have children it is possible to help with sporting or youth group events. 3. Attend community events and working bees – This is one sure way to get to know your local surroundings. Example of events includes; take 3 for the beach or Clean up Australia. Naturally, there are many more events and working bees, locally, regionally and nationally. 4. Support local events – Markets, art and music festivals, performances, local team events. There are many local events. Listen out for announcements for what’s happening in your neighbourhood and offer to help out or go along and support. 5. Donate resources – Donate clothes, household goods to your local charity collection like Salvation Army or Smiths Family. Additionally, give food to the food bank or donate linen to the homeless shelter. Also, don’t hesitate to contact your local animal shelter to offer donations. 6. Sponsor an animal or sponsor a road. If you have no time and want to give back consider sponsorship. Some local areas have a sponsor an animal program or sponsor a road. Sponsor a child is also an option for many charities.
In The Long Run Community Work Benefits All You learn many skills when involved in the community by helping at an event or sitting on a committee. Transferable skills for work and life. Therefore, the skills can assist with future employment or promotion. To be involved in your community whether online or offline is a win win relationship, where the giver and the receiver are both rewarded. Have a great day. Angie Emde – Lifestyle Anytime. Angie blogs about productivity, community and social media marketing, as well as living abroad. She started blogging while learning the skills to start an online business. Her mission is to help others succeed with social media and blogging as well as live a laptop lifestyle while travelling in Australia. Angie can be found sharing tips and tricks while walking the beaches on the Central Coast NSW Australia. Follow on Social Media
4/5
Facebook: LifestyleAnytime Instagram: LifestyleAnytime Contact: Angie at Lifestyle Anytime
Angie Emde – 6 Ways To Be Involved In Your Community Top of page
5/5