Time is so precious and how you spend it can make a big difference – both in your life and the lives of others.
My local community Hub is run almost entirely by volunteers. They have about 45 people who give up their time to volunteer every week. They deliver courses, run the lunch club, bake cakes for the coffee shop, help in the crèche, clean… the list goes on! As you talk to these volunteers about why they do it, you hear that when they give their time, they find a place of belonging. They gain more than they give.
“Time can be a difficult thing for us to give, which is why it’s such a generous way to be kind.” Jaime Thurston, Kindness: the little thing that matters most
It can be hard to see how we could fit volunteering into our lives. But speaking from experience, the benefits outweigh the sacrifice. Don’t underestimate the joy of making a difference in someone’s life and of being a part of something bigger than yourself.
One volunteer at The Hub was a lady with very low self-esteem. She was very isolated and came along to some of the classes run at the Hub. She was given the opportunity to volunteer and gradually became an indispensable part of the team, helping in a number of areas. The Hub team say they have seen her grow in confidence and that they couldn’t do what they do without her. She has found friends and describes the people at the Hub as “like family.”
The benefits of volunteering are undeniable – when a person gives generously of their time they gain so much in return. Even if all you can give is an hour a week, it will make a huge difference.