Celebrating Our Volunteers

Volunteering – They Serve, By Love

Our amazing group of volunteers are the heartbeat of our school.

The cup of tea and biscuits after Chapel Service; the warm welcomes and the questions answered on Orientation and Open Days; the class coordinators who gather parents together for coffee and catch-ups; the coaching and sports day help; the road patrols who keep our students safe; the mentors at the Careers Breakfast and Evening; the numerous speakers who have come to inspire our girls through their accomplishments and endeavours – they have been in every corner of our campus and their heartwarming presence lingers for much, much, longer than their physical one. Last year, in 2020, we had a staggering 240 volunteers who contributed their time and/or expertise; these include parents (past and current), students, Old Girls, staff members, and friends of the College. Many of our volunteers come forward in times of need from both near and far, and many are already an integral part of our school community – the Parents & Friends, Asian Friendship Group, Old Girls’ Association have been organising many of our major events on the College calendar. Imagine our College without Chinese New Year celebrations, Grandparents’ Day, the Principal’s Party, Parent–Daughter Breakfasts, College Balls, Graduation Balls, Leavers’ Soirees and nativity plays. These events are either organised by, or with, massive involvement from our dedicated and hardworking groups of volunteers. More than that, their aim and focus are not just to create fun and mark rites of passage for our students, but to celebrate our diverse cultures, to fundraise for special projects or needs, and to bring the community together.

Their dedication and commitment resonate far beyond the event on the day.

The volunteer engines behind the scenes are equally active. They rally to assist when they hear of a family in need, such as a sad passing of a member of the community. They help the College immensely with communications to select groups or ones with language barriers. The support and the connection they bring in, in sometimes challenging situations, are hugely important and never to be underestimated.

One of our parent volunteers puts her hand up to help in sports, events, fundraising and class coordinating at school. She also volunteers in other charities outside of the College. When asked why she volunteers, she says, “With school it helps me be closer to my girls... it’s giving back to an institution that gives a lot to my girls.

“Making a positive difference or just reaching a goal that I’m passionate about, gaining experience too, are a few more reasons for my volunteering. Sometimes I like to volunteer for something I haven’t done before (out of my comfort zone) so that I can learn something. Most of all, volunteering brings a positive boost to my personal wellbeing.”

Another parent who is a huge supporter in sports events and a mentor for our Careers Breakfast, says,

“Being able to give back or pay it forward, as they say these days, is one of the most precious things we can do for others and it’s the number one reason why I volunteer. The second is because I’m a big believer in time being our most precious commodity and like Bill Gates said, ‘Time is the one thing that you can’t buy more of,’ so by giving of our time, we are essentially gifting one of the most precious things we can, to others. I love that even the smallest amount of my time, given every so often, can help the girls at St Cuthbert’s enjoy opportunities that potentially may not happen if it weren’t for all of the many volunteers that pitch in around the school.”

You may not know them and you may not see them, but what they do for our community is keeping it vibrant, joyful, safe informed, comforted, and most of all, connected. They truly serve by love.