HVA’s Volunteers’ Week

Make a difference in your community. As part of Volunteers’ Week, Hastings Voluntary Action are joining other partners across East Sussex to celebrate all the people that make a difference in our communities. Volunteers’ Week is a national initiative running from 1 to 7 June, recognising the fantastic role that volunteers play in their communities.

More than 60,000 people in the county regularly give their time to help local charities, voluntary and community organisations, with a recent survey indicating that more than half of all adults in East Sussex have volunteered in their community at least once over the last year.

To mark Volunteers’ Week, Hastings Voluntary Action and over 20 other local charities and community groups will be in Hastings town centre all day on Thursday 1 June, to promote the volunteering opportunities that are currently available, and to chat with people about what they can do in their own communities. Do stop by and say hello!

Alternatively you can find out about volunteering throughout the year by contacting Hastings Voluntary Action on 01424 444010, or visiting Hastings Voluntary Action’s website.

Volunteering can be fun, and you can make new friends. You can gain more skills, confidence and experience, and it can be a way for you to give something back to the community or make a big difference in someone’s life.

Kim Kelly, from Hastings, began volunteering with BHT’s Fulfilling Lives project – which supports people with issues such as homelessness, substance misuse and mental health issues – after being unemployed for 13 years.

She said: “They required a once weekly, 2 hour commitment which I felt was manageable for me to start with. There was a contact number to phone to go for an informal chat about the volunteering role, which I did.”

“I’ve got so much from volunteering – it has given me a purpose in life, an interest and a feeling of being part of something. I’ve learned new skills and gained confidence in myself. I’m now in a much better place than I was and have something to put on my CV for any applications for future employment.”

Are you inspired by Kim’s story? There are lots of opportunities across East Sussex and a wide variety of roles on offer ranging from a few hours a week to one-off roles and including activities which can be done online or from home; there’s something for everyone!

For more information contact Hastings Voluntary Action on 01424 444010, or visit Hastings Voluntary Action’s website.

Training opportunities

Book on to a training course: Hastings Voluntary Action Current Training and Events

Tuesday 13 June: Basic First Aid (life Support)

Thursday 15 June & Friday 16 June: Briefing about Reducing Health Inequalities Grants

Tuesday 17 July: Moving and Handling for Volunteers

Wednesday 22 November: Introduction to Child Protection

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