Volunteering - February 2009

DIRECTOR’S BLOG
Andrew Beeforth’s Cumbria Life article

see also the website http://www.cumbrialife.co.uk

February 2009

As the winter continues to hold its grip on our imaginations it can be hard to energise ourselves.

We’ve maybe already broken our New Year’s promises and feeling less than good about life with rain coming down and the slow down in the economy making us all tighten our belts.

I may have a tonic, an idea that might bring you new friends, new skills and interests, and guess what? It won’t cost you anything.

So what am I talking about? Well it’s simple – volunteering. Many of you reading this article will already be aware of the benefits, and in fact Cumbria has a much higher than average level of volunteering. Volunteers are at the heart of our communities, providing the social, sporting and cultural opportunities we enjoy. We know that the work of groups receiving grant aid from the Cumbria Community Foundation involves over 10,000 volunteers a year.

So why do people volunteer? Quite simply they enjoy it. There is a direct correlation between the number of people you interact with and your happiness. A cost free way of dispelling the winter blues?

The key to success in volunteering is finding an organisation and activities that you really enjoy.

Some of our bigger local charities such as Age Concern have literally hundreds of people volunteering for them. Many of these organisations have volunteer coordinators who can help place you with a job and role that suits you best. Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service has a volunteer placement service. They hold details of different volunteering opportunities with a range of charities.

Whoever you volunteer with they should train you and provide you with the relevant tools to do the job including any safety checks such as child protection.

If you run or manage a business this might be the time to consider promoting volunteering at work. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to widen people’s experience and contacts and build confidence. It can help promote your business as socially responsible and your reputation in the community is enhanced. The Community Foundation manages the ProHelp scheme which recruits people with specialist skills such as architects, accountants and solicitors which offer time to local groups. Do you have a skill you’d like to share?

The current economic situation could be just the right time to volunteer. You can develop new skills and gain qualifications through volunteering. It can also provide a simple way of trying out new activities if you’re thinking of changing career.

Here are just a few examples:

Enjoy the outdoors and physical activity? Then contact the Wildlife Trust or British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

Is drama and music your thing? Many of our theatres and arts centres are run by charities and would welcome your support.

Fancy yourself as a budding DJ or techie – then contact your local hospital radio.

If you enjoy working as part of a group then one of our service clubs such as the Rotary, Round Table and Soroptimists might be for you.

We have wonderful charities undertaking valuable and interesting work. Why not give them a try in 2009?

For more information visit www.cumbriafoundation.org

Cumbria Grassroots Endowment Challenge Update – Year two begins

The Grassroots Endowment Challenge is seeking to raise money to build permanent grant making funds at the Community Foundation. What’s better is the Government is matching all local donations. These permanent funds are invested and the income used to make grants to local charities – in perpetuity. We welcome donations of all sizes to our main Cumbria Fund and for people able to donate larger sums they can create their own fund.

We’re seeking to raise £1m by March 2011. Year two of the appeal has got off to a good start with a donation of £10,000 from the steel stockists Thomas Graham. Thomas Graham is building a grant fund to support children and young people’s activities throughout Cumbria.

How the scheme works

For every £2 you give the Government will add £1 through the Challenge. If you pay tax and use Gift Aid then £2 becomes £2.56. Add in the match and the fund receives £3.82.

For more visit www.cumbriafoundation.org
© Copyright 2009 Cumbria Community Foundation
All rights reserved 28/05/2009
Registered charity 1075120