‘Be the difference’ in your community - Volunteer Fair
Residents gathered at Hackney Museum yesterday evening to meet with local organisations and find out more about volunteer roles in Hackney, as part of a wider campaign to encourage local residents to ‘be the difference’ in their communities.
The free volunteering fair, which was organised by Volunteer Centre Hackney (VCH), provided local residents with the opportunity to hear about a wide range of volunteering roles from charities and projects from across the borough.
Organisations who attended the fair included Crisis, Blind Aid, Social Action for Health, Headway East London, who support people affected by brain injuries, environmental regeneration organisation Groundwork, and youth education charity City Year.
Local resident, Sasha, 18, became interested in volunteering as she wanted to donate her time to a productive cause. She said: “I want to help people, build confidence and get involved with organisations that work in my community. It’s good to be involved with organisations in the borough, for the borough.”
The fair is a part of VCH and Hackney Council’s ‘Be the Difference’ campaign, which encourages local residents to make a positive difference in their communities by giving their time to important causes that matter to them, such as helping the environment, tackling social isolation and supporting people with additional needs.
Retired Hackney Resident, Christine, enjoyed learning about all of the opportunities available in the borough at the Fair. She said: “I have volunteered in the past and I’m now looking to get involved again. I used to stay in the house all of the time, so it would be good to have a reason to get out of the house, it will be good for my health. I used to be a carer, so I have skills I can give and share my experiences with people.”
VCH holds volunteer fairs every three months, whilst supporting over 400 local not-for-profit groups to successfully host volunteers. To find 100s more local volunteering roles, visit Volunteer Centre Hackney’s website: www.vchackney.org/
I am incredibly encouraged by Hackney’s strong and dynamic voluntary and community sector, which quietly transforms the lives of Hackney residents every day.
Volunteering is hugely rewarding, both to volunteers and to the communities that they support. It provides an opportunity to be part of shaping our borough for the better. By sparing anything from a few hours a week, you can help make a massive difference in your community and to local residents’ lives.
