Charities join forces to attract new volunteers in Northamptonshire
Event brings together 20 charities and community organisations
Nearly 20 charities and community organisations will gather in Rushden today for a volunteer fair aimed at connecting local people with opportunities to give back to their communities.
The Northamptonshire Volunteer Fair is being organised by bereavement charity The Never Alone Project in partnership with Myton Food Group. It will take place from 10.30am to 2.30pm at the Myton Food Group Produce site.
Visitors will have the chance to meet representatives from a wide range of organisations, learn more about their work and explore volunteering roles ranging from fundraising and administration to community outreach, events and trustee positions.
Among the charities attending are Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charity, Guide Dogs, Teamwork Trust, Age UK Northamptonshire, Medical Detection Dogs, Animals in Need Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service.
Organiser Ilze Lee, founder of The Never Alone Project, said the event was designed to make volunteering more accessible.
She said: "There are so many people out there who want to volunteer but feel a little bit doubtful about getting in touch or they're not quite sure if a charity is the right fit for them.
"What we're doing is bringing a lot of charities together and saying, come and talk to us, come and find out if we're the right fit for you, or if the table next to us is the right fit for you."
Lee said many people underestimate the value of the time they can offer.
"Please come and talk to us. There are opportunities for people with different skills, different abilities and different amounts of time to give."
She described volunteers as "vital" to charities and community groups.
"We cannot do our service without volunteers," she said.
"They are the blood that runs through our veins. We cannot exist without the goodwill of people who help us.
Lee said volunteers also gain just as much as they give, with opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills and grow in confidence.
"Just being a volunteer counts so much on a CV. If you want to do public speaking, if you want to do events, there's such a camaraderie between volunteers and it's a great way to make friends as well."
The Never Alone Project is currently looking for volunteers to support fundraising collections, help facilitate support groups and assist with marketing.
Organisers say today's event is free to attend, with parking available on site, and anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to drop in throughout the day.
Lee added: "You don't have to arrive knowing what you want to volunteer for. Just come along, have a conversation and see what catches your interest."
For more information about The Never Alone Project visit the charity's website.