Dartford Giving

By Kate Hargreaves

Most of the roles that I write about each month, I do (or have done in the past) myself, and for the few that I haven’t experienced first-hand, someone close to me has done and has given me information for the article. There are multiple reasons for this: I wouldn’t want to recommend something that I don’t know much about, I wouldn’t want to give you wrong information, and finally you’ve got to practice what you preach – I wouldn’t ask others to give up their time if I wasn’t willing to do the same. Anyway, what I’m writing about this month is something you already know I do – contributing to Dartford Living… Dartford Living volunteer “What is it?” Volunteering with Dartford Living can take many forms, so you’re almost guaranteed to have a skill that the Dartford Living team wants. If you have a cause close to your heart or a story to tell, you might like to write a regular article such as this one. If you like getting out and about, you might consider delivering magazines in the Dartford area. If you enjoy exploring local areas with your camera, you could be a photographer. If you have good attention to detail and often spot mistakes when reading books, you could be a proof reader. The Dartford Living team is always growing and evolving, and you’re not limited to any one thing – you’re welcome to try out other roles too.

“Would I enjoy it?” Given the broad range of ways that you can get involved, there’s bound to be something that you’d enjoy. The people who volunteer are from a variety of backgrounds and volunteer for lots of different reasons. For example, my mum and her neighbour, who are both retired, deliver magazines together each month, as they both enjoy walking and can have a chat at the same time (shout out to Vanessa and Barbara!). I started writing this article as I had attended an information evening about becoming a charity trustee and it became clear that some people didn’t know what the role entailed, and thought there should be something that gives people more information about the different ways they can volunteer their time. If you have an idea for something you’d like to see, why not make it happen!

“How much time do I need for it?” It very much depends on exactly how you want to get involved, and all roles are quite flexible.

“Are there any requirements?” Nope! Just a willingness to give it a go – whether that is using existing skills or trying out something new for you.

“This sounds great, how do I get involved?” A good starting place is to email editor@dartfordliving. com, or as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at kate@dartfordliving.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

St George’s Church Hall DA11 0DJ