As this year's national 'Volunteers Week' gets closer, a fresh call is being made for more people in Cumbria to give up a little of their spare time, for various good causes.
The Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service - or CVS, has organised a Volunteering Fair on Thursday the 2nd of June between 1pm and 2.30pm at Kendal Town Hall.
Local organisations that are looking to recruit new volunteers include Leonard Cheshire Disability, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Oaklea Trust, Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Royal Voluntary Service, Brathay Trust, Quaker Tapestry, South Lakeland Carers, Depaul Nightstop, Oxfam Ambleside, South Lakeland Hydrotherapy Trust, South Lakeland Mind , Girlguiding Cumbria South,Lake District National Park, Farfield Mill, Alzheimers Society and Cumbria CVS itself.
Judith Holmshaw, County Volunteer Support Officer for Cumbria CVS said: “This event will be a fantastic opportunity to be inspired to volunteer. Local organisations will show you how your time can make a huge difference to individuals and charities that need more people to come forward to volunteer."
Kevin Aitken from the Cumbria Building Society - which is funding the event, added: "This Volunteers Week event is a great way of meeting local charities and an opportunity to learn about how valuable volunteers are to them and the Cumberland Building Society are proud to be sponsoring this event. I hope lots of new people that are interested in volunteering come along to the event as it’s not often you will get the opportunity to meet so many charities in one place.”
For more information, call 01768 800350 or e-mail: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk.
Meanwhile, bosses of St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston are keen to use awareness raised by the national campaign to thank its team of "wonderful volunteers".
Anne Atkinson, Volunteer & Community Engagement Lead, said: “National Volunteers’ Week is the ideal opportunity for us to thank our dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers work hard across so many of St Mary’s services and areas, and without them we simply couldn’t continue our work.
"We have created stories of thanks from staff members across the hospice to show our appreciation. Hopefully this will also inspire others to get involved and showcase the range of volunteering roles available.
"Your time makes a real difference to the care given to people with life-shortening illnesses, their families and carers.”