Volunteering roles up for grabs as part of Coronation celebrations in May.

The Big Help Out is a formal part of the Coronation, potentially transforming a quietly unseen activity into something much more visible. 

Closer to home Beestonian readers will have spotted a feature in this Spring issue, listing top reasons to volunteer, including making a difference, personal enrichment, networking, self-fulfilment and having fun. Essentially giving time to others can be beneficial to both recipients and to the volunteer’s own wellbeing.

This is a valuable community resource taking many forms, with endless opportunities for potential volunteers. Attenborough and Beeston Stations, Attenborough Nature Reserve, the Canalside Heritage Centre and the Middle Street Resource Centre, each are good examples of local initiatives that could not survive without voluntary support. Helping out with this Society is another.

A quick look on the web shows many local volunteering vacancies, including charities, plus other opportunities including driving and mentoring. There is a clear need out here, but there is a weakness in our local pairing process.

Matching volunteers to local volunteering opportunities was a core function of

the now – apparently defunct – Voluntary Action Broxtowe, a registered charity of more than 30 years. A lonely High Road sign is the only reminder that it was housed in Oban House.

Possible ways forward?

Resurrecting a local matching service is one suggestion arising out of our Beeston Vision consultations, so the issue for us is where do we go from here? 

Exploring ideas from elsewhere is a useful start and there are parallels with other types of matching, like dating apps, that might be adapted to our local circumstances. 

We have potential volunteers and a clear demand for their services. Your thoughts please on how to make it work? 

Peter Robinson

22 March 2023