‘Donating’ to make a difference is never just about money, but can also be about giving time to volunteer for an organsisation or a cause that someone is passionate about. If donating money isn’t something you feel able to do to make a difference in 2019, maybe donating your time is.
At Justlife, volunteers have made our work possible in so many ways. Whether it is through helping in our gardens, making smoothies in our drop-ins, teaching art classes, sitting down for a cuppa with those using our service or even simply cleaning—every volunteer has made our work that little bit easier. The help and support provided by volunteers is often priceless for an organisation. However, it can also have a positive impact on the volunteer’s life as well. One of our recent volunteers in Manchester told us:
“I like working with the different people at Justlife. It gives me fulfillment and confidence. I like helping people, getting to know them and hearing their stories. I also really like Justlife specifically because it is a small organsiation and feels like a family. Also, I’d like to get a job one day working with vulnerable people so it my volunteering at Justlife is helping me gain knowledge and experience.”
Volunteering opportunities do not always have to be big, sometimes even giving your time to help with the smallest things can empower an organisation to effectively reach and support more people in need.
If you want to think about volunteering to make a difference in 2019 but aren’t sure where to start – we suggest to begin by thinking about what you are passionate about and what motivates you; it could be homelessness, loneliness, mental health, animal welfare, etc.
Once you have an idea of what you would like to give your time to, look up local voluntary organisations in your area that specialise in your area of interest.
Contact these organisations to ask if they have any volunteering opportunities and, if they do not, if they know of other similar organisations who might.
Sometimes, the first step is just a Google search and picking up the phone.
Justlife sometimes has volunteer opportunities in Brighton and Manchester. The best way to check is to see what is listed on our website or to contact us through the online form.
If you would like to volunteer for another cause in either Brighton or Manchester, here are some links where you could find further information:
Go to the ‘Community Works’ website where you will find options to search current available volunteering opportunities and instructions on how to register with them.
If you are interested in volunteering around homelessness in Manchester, the best resource is Street Support. Their website gives you the opportunity to both advertise what type of help you would like to offer the voluntary homelessness sector but also the opportunity for you to have a look at what specifically organisations need and maybe they need something you could offer.
Think about volunteering this year – it could make a difference both for others AND for yourself.
