“I have learnt some of the best things from volunteering and been given the best opportunities through it.” Holly Walters, a member of Save The Streets (STS), a homeless charity I’m proud to be part of, sums up my belief in volunteering in one simple sentence.
Volunteering isn’t only important for worthy causes and the people in need, but for volunteers too- improving wellbeing and career prospects. As Social media Secretary for STS, I am able to use any skills I have to help people who need it. In December, the efforts we utilised online to spread information about our fundraiser to as many people as possible is something I’ll be proud of for years to come. We managed to raise the highest amount in the charity’s history, over £1200 pounds, giving 120 people a bed for the night.
However, volunteering is much more than fundraising. It’s soup kitchens, hospices, mental health volunteers, it can simply be giving your time to others. Volunteering can be absolutely anything you want it to be; finding the right match for the work you want to complete leads you to friending friends, learning more about your community and learning and improving your skills- whatever they may be.
We’ve seen the importance of volunteering over the past year- 10 million UK adults have volunteered throughout the pandemic, with most wanting to carry on once life ‘goes back to normal.’ Volunteering through the country’s recent tough times has given millions a deeper perspective, it can useful to volunteers to see that their lives aren’t as bad as they believed; stopping rumination along with helping improve lives of others.
Aristotle said that life is “to serve other and do good,” and the past year has shown that life is exactly that- volunteering is needed, now more than ever, and more and more people are volunteering for others and themselves everyday.
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