HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE DARTFORD MARKS VOLUNTEERS’ WEEK 2023.

training materials to help students. Eleanor Johnson started at Healthy Living Centre Dartford as a volunteer community chef in 2014, initially delivering a healthy cookery course at the Milan Day Centre then going on to running our community café, helping to support other volunteers in the kitchen, providing delicious buffets for partner organisations and cooking for the homeless throughout the pandemic lockdown and at the weekly drop in at Temple Hill Community Centre.” We were delighted that our new Mayor, Cllr Rosanna Currans was available to present awards to these two amazing champions!!

2023 marked the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), when Healthy Living Centre Dartford joined thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK. With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate and Inspire’ we hope to encourage people to be the change that we want to see and get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering, so taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate their efforts and all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole has never been more important.

This Volunteers’ Week Healthy Living Centre Dartford will be celebrating their 45 strong volunteer team by hosting a barbecue in their community gardens, and especially celebrating two of their longest serving volunteers with “Room to Reward” awards, a unique volunteerrecognition charity created to say “thank you” to the Hidden Heroes – inspirational volunteers who give up their time to make a difference to those who need it most. Bob Hope joined us in 2011 as a Go-Online tutor, teaching people computer skills and to make the most of digital technology and running our “Silver Surfer” computer club, developing a huge range of

Sharon Phillips, Chief Officer at Healthy Living Centre Dartford said: “Volunteers’ Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. Thanks to all of them, the local community benefits from around 93 hours of volunteer time every week, from help with getting online to weekly social get togethers, arts and crafts activities, cookery and gardening clubs, exercise sessions and of course our Repair Cafés.”

Joan Woodhead, Volunteer coordinator with the Healthy Living centre said “All of our volunteers are fantastic bringing time, enthusiasm and a “want to help” attitude to whatever project that they choose to get involved in. The volunteers come from all walks of life and have different skills to offer. The Healthy Living centre has been incredibly successful with having a regular base of 45 plus volunteers with some moving on into paid jobs, or other activity and new volunteers replacing these. Without our volunteers we would not be able to deliver as much activity or projects across Dartford.

Thank you, to all our wonderful volunteers!

Would you like to learn how to teach others to cook and prepare meals or maybe you already have those skills to share with others? Would you like to share your IT skills or learn and progress in a regular IT class? Or if the outdoor life is for you, you can join the team follow our social media pages: Facebook @healthylivingcentredartford and Instagram: @hlcdartford. on our community allotment to grow your own vegetables, fruit and flowers.

If you would like more information on these or future activities or have any suggestions, please email us: info@hlcdartford.org.uk and

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