Celebrating the difference volunteers make
Volunteering has always made a significant contribution to supporting peoples’ health and wellbeing – including their mental health. Over the last year, we have seen clearly how volunteers have been an inherent part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our report Investigating volunteering in mental health settings, based on research conducted just before the covid pandemic, highlights how volunteering benefits the health and wellbeing of both the volunteer and those receiving support, and looks at the things we can do differently to build on existing work as we move forward.
Read about how the community and voluntary sector is helping people in West Yorkshire and Harrogate during the covid pandemic on the 'Community heroes' section of the Coronavirus information and resources page.
The volunteer landscape has seen significant changes over the last few years; from the rise of community response and emergency micro volunteering, coupled with many well-established volunteer programmes put on hold, or volunteers standing down due to health reasons or as a result of the pandemic. At times, volunteers have been viewed as the solution to address vital issues such as workforce capacity within health and care settings. Nationally the Vision for Volunteering recognises these fundamental changes and the need to put the volunteers (rather than what they can do for us), at the centre of our policy decisions to tackle long-standing inequalities. As Volunteer Management professionals, we are committed to high quality and inclusive volunteering.
Read more about our key principles for involving volunteers in this document Volunteer Principles.
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We're celebrating the role of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to mark the NHS 75th birthday on 5 July 2023. This magnificent milestone is being celebrated by launching a new report which demonstrates the tremendous work of the sector and the challenges faced.
Halifax volunteers championed by National Council for Voluntary Organisations
In 2020, PHE’s healthy communities team partnered with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to develop a number of case studies that reflect the role of volunteering in community-centred public health systems. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations pulled together six case studies that reflect a range of public health themes and volunteering approaches.
Read more on the website.
Volunteer stories
Here are just a few inspiring stories from people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate who volunteer. You can also read more volunteer's own stories in this bulletin from Volunteer's Week 2020.
Keith’s s
tory...
Keith is a volunteer driver at the Dementia Forward hub in Burton Leonard, Harrogate. Keith explains: “I’ve found that volunteering has given me the chance to contribute to my community. Volunteering has helped me focus on someone other than me and my family. My satisfaction in life has increased, it has given me a sense of purpose and a shift in perspective that has opened my mind to what is important in life.”
David’s story…
David is a volunteer musician at the Dementia Forward Harrogate ‘Singing for Fun’ group. David told us:
“I’m David and I have been playing the piano for many years, for Dementia Forward’s Thursday singing group at Christ Church in Harrogate. 35-45 clients and carers usually come to enjoy singing all kinds of songs. Why singing? Because the music triggers memories th
at few other stimuli can. Feet start tapping, hands clapping, fingers clicking, lips purse to whistle, long-forgotten words are remembered and limbs stir to a gentle waltz rhythm. “This is the highlight of my week” says one regular. “We sang ‘Down at the old Bull and Bush’ last week.” says another, “I proposed to my wife in that north London pub!” That’s why I do it."
Bev’s story…
Bev is a new volunteer at the Dementia Forward ‘Time Together Tuesday’ wellbeing café in Harrogate. Bev explains:
“I wanted to support a local charity and after reading about all the good work they do in the community, and how much they rely on volunteers, I chose Dementia Forward. I volunteer at the Wellbeing Cafe in Harrogate, where we provide lunch and spend time chatting and playing games with the clients."
“In the couple of hours we spend together it is lovely seeing the clients laughing and enjoying themselves, and joining in the wellbeing activities together. It is also nice to be able to help to give the families and carers a break in their daily routine."
Antida's story...
Antida, who volunteers as a Welcome Mentor, found the training for the volunteer role really enjoyable. Welcome Mentors help refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to settle in Kirklees and support them in accessing services and integrating into the community.
Read Antida's story on the Volunteering Kirkless website.
Itziar's story...
Like Antida, Itziar also volunteers as a Welcome Mentor. Itziar isn't able to meet people face-to-face just yet but is still providing support by telephone. She's been making sure that the families she helps understand the latest health guidelines and checks that their essential needs are being met.
Read Itzair's story on the Volunteering Kirklees website.
Volunteering Kirklees has information about volunteering opportunities and many more great volunteer stories.
Amy's story...
Sam’s story…
Karen's story...