People like you volunteer
Derek
Drives a bus taking groups of people on outings: "I started driving Community Transport vehicles while I still had a full-time job, then got involved more when I retired. I enjoy helping them get out and about, sometimes we even go out and see a show!"
Sophie
Who is 19 years old has a health problem so can't hold down a full-time job but volunteers three days a week at a town centre charity shop: "It gets me out of the house and I'm learning how to run a small business at the same time."
Pat
Pat Caulton is a Trustee for Fareham and Gosport Family Aid, a charity supporting families affected by domestic abuse.
She says: "I have been involved with the charity as a trustee for almost 10 years and have found the work challenging but extremely enjoyable.
It is very rewarding to help so many vulnerable women and children.
I have also been lucky to be part of a team of trustees who have the same commitment and interest in providing the best quality service that we can.
It is particularly satisfying that over the years we have increased the numbers of families helped from 40
in the earliest years to more than 247 this past year.
This is largely because we are now able to help more families in the community through our outreach work."
Being a trustee is rewarding, intellectually challenging and brings you into contact with like minded people working towards a common goal.
Pat says that she can thoroughly recommend the work to anyone who wants to make a difference and is committed to helping others.
Arthur
Is living proof that age is no barrier to volunteering - he has been a Day Centre volunteer for 15 years and turns 100 this year. Officially, his job is to clear the tables and help wash up, but he does much more than that - having a laugh and a joke with guests, making them feel at home: "It's the company, that's the main thing, I get as much out of it as they do."
Katie
Volunteers on a play scheme for children with learning disabilities. She becomes a 'buddy' for a day giving confidence to an individual child. "I started volunteering because I wanted to go to medical school and it will help with my application. But the real reason I keep going is that it's really good fun."
Jane
Is a School Governor, and first got involved during a career break: "It's interesting, varied, challenging, stimulating; at times a bit scary and frustrating but overall a very rewarding role where you are involved in decisions that make a real difference to young lives."
Roger
Tackles coppicing, weeding and maintenance tasks in the open air: "Becoming a Volunteer Ranger seemed just the opportunity to give something back to the community and enjoy the fresh air and countryside but probably, more truthfully, to try and recapture something of my childhood."
People like you volunteer
