Accuro celebrates Volunteers’ Week
FROM 1st – 7th June every year, organisations celebrate and say thank you to the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.
In 2019 thus far, over 70% of people in the UK have volunteered at some point in their lives and 96% of those have found volunteering to be a positive experience (NCVO, Time Well Spent 2019). The benefits of volunteering are immense as it not only helps others in our community, but it is also a great way to learn new and valuable skills and build our confidence and self-esteem in the process.
As the voluntary sector continues to grow, the ways in which you can volunteer continuously expand. Helen Kenny, Volunteer Coordinator says “at Accuro you could work with our fundraising events team to organise events in the community or lend a hand at one of our youth clubs or even become a befriender to someone with a disability. There are even corporate volunteering opportunities for local businesses that are keen to contribute to their community. The possibilities are truly endless!
Chloe: “The service users are ultimately why I love being part of the Accuro team”
Since joining Accuro as a Volunteer, I have taken part in so many different activities from helping to shoot a short film to helping make clay models and I have loved every second of it. In as much as I love the staff, the service users are ultimately why I love being a part of the Accuro team. They are so full of joy, they’re up for any activity and just help make my time a pleasure while I’m working with them. I would recommend volunteering to anyone and everyone who loves to be a part of a friendly community as it’s a decision you will not regret. Each day is something new and exciting and I can never wait for the next day and the next fun thing we get to do together!
Rhiannon: From volunteer to Deputy Operations Manager
I began volunteering at the Under 19s Youth Club in Great Dunmow, for two hours on a Wednesday evening. I supported the young people to engage in different activities that would strengthen their friendships and build life skills, such as cooking or crafts for example. As my younger brother has Autism I have always had an interest in supporting people with disabilities. I always wanted to give back to the community and having a volunteering position helped my CV stand out when I applied for jobs. In my first year volunteering I helped the service users write, direct and perform a Christmas play to the parents, which was so much fun! After volunteering for about 8 months I was offered a paid position at the youth club, and since then I’ve worked as a Community Support Worker for the Holiday Scheme and a Bank Play Worker at Saturday Play Club. A few years later and I am now the Deputy Operations Manager and I co-ordinate the Holiday Scheme! Accuro have enabled me to develop professionally because I was provided with lots of relevant training and support in my role.
Amelia: “Accuro helped with my confidence and now I volunteer to help others”
I used to attend the Great Dunmow Under 19s Club when I was a teenager and now, I support the Youth Club as a volunteer. Being a caring person by nature, I have always wanted to be able to work with children and young people with special needs. I love being able to see new young people join the club, experiment with new activities, blossom and become more confident. My hope for the young people I work with is that they can live independently and always have a safe space to learn new skills and gain new exciting experiences that enable them to develop and thrive.
Volunteering at Accuro
“Volunteers are at the heart of the work we do at Accuro as we greatly benefit from the varied skillset and experience, they bring. This enables us to make a powerful and long-lasting effect on our community in supporting people with a disability. We are incredibly proud and grateful to have such fantastic volunteers that give their time with such enthusiasm,” says Helen Kenny.
To celebrate Volunteers’ Week, Accuro will be opening its doors to the community on 4th June for Accuro Day taking place at Tocher House, Start Hill, Takeley. There will be refreshments, informal chats with key community supporters and a showcase of the work that takes place in the youth clubs. All community members are welcome and if you would like to attend, please RSVP to fundraising@accuro.org.uk.
To find out more about the volunteering opportunities available at Accuro, please contact helen@accuro.org.uk or visit www.accuro.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering.
