NEW WEBSITE

Volunteering for all

Volunteer Plus Rutland is a new website funded jointly by Citizens Advice and Rutland County Council. Tessa Oram tells us more.

AS WE START to emerge from restrictions, connecting with people and places again, there are a few uestions that may be reverberating through utland. ur lives have changed. ome of us have found ourselves with more time on our hands, or a diff erent confi guration of time, so how can we now use that thers have maybe lost meaningful connections and are wondering how to meet new people and fi nd groups of friends who they click with.

Many of us were amazed and delighted at the outpouring of generosity that we saw, experienced and were part of during the pandemic; doorstep kindness’ as it has been dubbed. ur uestion now is how we can salvage some of that spirit and build on it e are delighted to announce the launch of a new website which might just help answer all of those uestions. olunteering is a shortcut to wellbeing in so many diff erent ways. sing time to help others, meeting people, instantly belonging to a group, and investing in our own communities are all immediate benefi ts. olunteer lus utland is the fi rst interactive, one stop shop for all things volunteering in the county. It is free and easy to use and gives you a chance to see at one glance all of the current volunteering opportunities that are available. It takes a minute to register and then a potential volunteer can fi lter their search to match their interests, availability and geographical area.

There are opportunities ranging from one off events to regular weekly or monthly commitments to home based or digital situations which will enhance the running of charities and community groups. A brief scroll will reveal the very broad range of voluntary and community activities there are in utland. There are charities who work with the very young, the elderly, those with disabilities and life limiting conditions, the arts, the countryside, ecology, history and sport and many more. arge well known charities operate alongside small local groups and all will have their own procedures for introducing new volunteers safely and warmly to the range of work they do.

If you are running a charity or community group that would like some new volunteers, then in the same way you can register yourself, explaining exactly what it is you are looking for and what you can do to support and train your volunteer. The site is getting several hundred hits each week already and it is still early days, so you can guarantee that your volunteer advert will get a good number of views. e spoke to osie, who volunteers at an akham based small charity called ut of ours lub’ which meets every Thursday. It provides a safe and easy environment for young adults with additional needs to socialise and have fun. e asked her what inspired her to volunteer in the fi rst place.

'The aim of the group is to combat social isolation and loneliness for the young adults we work with, and ironically that has worked out for me too.'

‘I was a teaching assistant in Oakham. I had moved down from Manchester and knew nobody. My first reason to volunteer was honestly to get some experience for my as I knew I wanted to go into teaching. I also wanted something to do on a Thursday evening which wasn’t connected with my work, and where I might meet people. I was invited to come along and see what happened at the group and I remember feeling very nervous. I knew no one and had no idea what to expect. traight away I was made to feel welcome and very uickly became part of this community and now they aren’t getting rid of me! The aim of the group is to combat social isolation and loneliness for the young adults we work with, and ironically that has worked out for me too. I have made a great group of friends and have found the same kind of connection for myself that the young people have found too.’ e asked osie what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering for the first time, and she replied with enthusiasm I would say absolutely go for it. I was so unsure about what to expect, but as soon as I was made to feel so welcome that first evening, I knew it was the right fit for me. It is about taking that leap of faith and going for it.’