Pulling together

Thanks have been given to the hundreds of people who volunteered to help flood victims, but you don't have to wait for a major disaster to volunteer...

From driving lorries with emergency supplies, providing companionship and serving food and drink in the rest centre, to helping clean up the streets, volunteers in Hull have given their time in many ways during the floods.
"We have people who've driven trucks full of furniture half-way across the country, and we've had trained counsellors offering their services for free," says Beth Swingler, voluntary and community sector manager at Hull City Council.
"When the chips are down everybody wants to pull together.
"Even the many people who have helped friends and neighbors move furniture and clean up their homes can be classed as volunteers. I would say we're talking about hundreds of people."

More volunteers needed

"But volunteers are needed all year round, not just in times of crisis," says Beth.
"Whilst giving something to the community, volunteering can be a way of helping people gain confidence, learn new skills and gain new friends. It can be a life-changing experience."
Volunteer Centre Hull, in Anlaby Road, currently has details of about 250 citywide volunteering vacancies based at more than 220 different organisations.
There are more than 16,000 volunteers in Hull who each give more than two hours per week, including helping with animal care, befriending, driving, gardening, or working with the disabled or mentally ill.

Strategy for Hull

Meanwhile, Hull is one of the first cities in the country to create a Volunteering Strategy which highlights the value of volunteering and aims to improve the experience of volunteers.
Created following a six-month consultation period with individual volunteers and organisations across the city, the strategy also identifies a number of challenges and barriers to volunteering with the aim that organisations can work together to overcome them.

To volunteer your time, please phone the Volunteer Centre on 324474, email vc@hull-cvs.co.uk or drop in to 29 Anlaby Road Hull. Also visit their website www.hullcvs.co.uk