What does it mean to be a volunteer?
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NVCO) defines a volunteer as someone who is unpaid and engages in an activity to benefit a third party other than a close relative or friend. Volunteering can be formal and managed by organisations, or informal within communities. It is a free choice made by the person giving up their time.
Volunteering means going beyond what’s required because the individual genuinely wants to contribute to a campaign, activity or project they believe in.
Volunteering can be remarkably fulfilling. It should always be mutually beneficial where a volunteer contributes their time without payment, but gains other benefits, such as a sense of well-being, satisfaction, achievement, social interaction, enjoyment, and the opportunity to learn new skills.
People generally think of volunteering as a regular activity or specialist role consistent with typical employment. This can be the case but it may also be a one-off project or a quick action e.g. sharing a groups campaign material or the ‘citizen science’ of counting the garden birds.
Never forget that a volunteer is not an employee, it doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial both you and the cause. It is important to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby or step in gaining new skills, but never a chore.
Every couple of years Storrington Community Partnership organise an event to help local voluntary organisations display their activities and attract volunteers. It also helps exchange ideas between organisations and let each other know their future initiatives and explore potential cooperation.
Admission is free.
A number of the local voluntary groups will be showcasing their group and the opportunities available at Storrington’s Volunteering Fair in Chanctonbury Leisure Centre on Saturday, 21st September 2024, from 10am to 1pm.
If your organisation has not registered to participate, do come along anyway, and we’ll try to help.
Submitted to the Storrington Community Website using the News Item contact form.