Volunteering can be a hugely valuable and rewarding experience for the volunteers and the communities they support and there are a wealth of opportunities available in Calderdale.
Volunteering provides many opportunities to develop new skills, improve mental health and self-awareness, and make new friends along the way.
When is the right time to volunteer?
Many people wait until they retire to volunteer, others volunteer when called upon and some volunteer throughout their lives. But even if you have reached the age of 50 or older and never volunteered, it isn’t too late to start.
There are now more volunteering opportunities than ever before, and they are becoming easier to find due to the growth of information online and due to COVID-19 pandemic a greater appreciation of the benefits of volunteering to society.
Volunteering in Calderdale
Many local organisations here in Calderdale depend on volunteers to deliver essential services to the wider community There are estimated to be over 1500 Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations in Calderdale employing 5,151 staff and over 13,500 volunteers.
The VSI Alliance provides extensive support to individuals interested in volunteering and run meetings with a dedicated volunteering team where they’ll get to know you and your interests and help guide you towards suitable volunteering opportunities.
To find out more, visit the VSI website or call Volunteer Development Officer Pam Barmby on 01422 348777. Or you can email info@vsialliance.org.uk to arrange a chat.
the VSI Alliance also run the Calderdale Volunteer Hub where you can discover one-off volunteering opportunities (known as micro-volunteering) as and when you have time to spare. By joining, you will gain access to a wide range of organisations and activities to try out across Calderdale through our Volunteero app. For more information contact Kate Hornby at volunteerhub@vsialliance.org.uk or call 01422 348777.
National sources of volunteering
A number of national websites advertise volunteering opportunities:
Indeed – a worldwide job site has simplified job hunting and recruitment and advertises voluntary work as well as paid work – it’s very easy to set up an alert based on your area and interests and upload a CV.
Do-it – a website dedicated to matching volunteers with volunteering opportunities. Major charities advertise on the site and you can set up a postcode based search for opportunities.
Volunteering Matters – charity with nearly sixty years of experience in facilitating volunteering programmes.
The NCVO has a network of accredited Volunteer Centres that span the country providing support and expertise within the local community, to potential volunteers, existing volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers.
Volunteer Centres are often a good place to start looking for volunteering opportunities in the local area. They can find out what you’re interested in doing, and try to match you with a suitable volunteering role with a local charity or voluntary organisation.
Trustee opportunities
Volunteering as a trustee is a great way to use skills learned while in employment to benefit the running of a charity or community group. A number of local organisations are on the look-out for Trustees. Find out more.
Links to local charities that need volunteers
Halifax Opportunities Trust offer flexible opportunities for members of the public to volunteer including in children’s centres in Calderdale and the Outback Garden at King Cross. The Employment Support team are keen to meet people who would like to volunteer as work coaches at job clubs and advisers for people who are self-employed or looking to start their own business. They deliver ESOL programmes (English as a Second Language) and look for positive role models to help.
The Staying Well Hub (part of Halifax Opportunities Trust) recruit telephone befrienders from time-to-time. The aim of telephone befriending is to reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness in older people. Volunteers are required to ring an older person to check on them and build a friendship.
Befrienders are carefully selected volunteers, who are trained to provide support and companionship to lonely, or emotionally distressed, people.
For more details call 01422 392767 or email stayingwellproject@calderdale.gov.uk
Age UK Calderdale and Kirklees regularly recruit volunteers to help with a variety of roles. Examples include befriending older people (either by telephone or face-to-face, digital buddies who help older people to use IT, assistants in Age UK’s charity shops and also help with fundraising and campaigning. They have a daycare centre in Halifax and a retail shop in Woolshops.
Green volunteering
There are lots of organisations in Calderdale who need your help to improve our local environment. Green Calderdale is a consortium between Calderdale Sustainability Forum and Calderdale Friends of the Earth. The website lists groups/organisations which need volunteers including Calderdale Countryside Service, the National Trust at Hardcastle Craggs and the Canal & River Trust. Find out more.
The local Scout Associations need people to help lead local groups, run committees and help young people develop new skills – https://www.halifaxscouts.org.uk/ or http://www.penninecalder.org.uk/
Overgate Hospice need fundraising support most of all but also run local charity shops which may need new volunteers from time-to-time. https://www.overgatehospice.org.uk/get-involved/
British Heart Foundation – https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer
Oxfam – https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/
RSPCA in Halifax need people from time-to-time to foster pets, drive vans, make home visits and help in their charity shops: https://www.rspcahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk/volunteer/
Halifax Society for the Blind – https://www.facebook.com/SightlossCalderdale/
Royal British Legion – https://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/halifax-central/branch-information
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve is run by volunteers. https://cromwellbottom.blogspot.com/
Calderdale Industrial Museum is run by a team of volunteers. https://calderdaleindustrial.co.uk/supporting-the-museum/
Other Ideas
Rotary Clubs across Calderdale (Elland, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge) – search on Facebook for contact details.
Primary Schools and after-school clubs need people to read with children.
Amateur sports clubs need committee members and volunteer coaches.
Churches need people to help run services, serve on committees and support parishioners.