What is Volunteering?
Volunteering means giving your time and abilities to aid others (usually a non-profit organisation like Eco Communities) without reward. Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.
Our Volunteering Experiences
I was brought up with volunteering around me, both my parents were involved in various activities. From scouting to amateur dramatics to name just a few, it was part of my upbringing and I even helped with Girl Guiding as a teenager and into early adult hood. I then became more concerned about the environment and joined what was a very small group with Friends of the Earth in Chester, where I made some lifelong friends. I have supported the Women’s Institute, but now my time all goes to progressing our work with Eco Communities. As a Community Interest Company with no paid roles we rely on volunteers. All four directors work full time, as do all our Steering Group members so we rely on volunteers to make the projects tick…..Helen T
Why not volunteer with us
You can get involved in volunteering with us in lots of different ways from just a litter pick to helping to organise events we have so many varing roles:
Small – you could choose to stay solo and perhaps get involved in litter picking using our new to be launched – litter pick hubs. You could come along to one of our Chester group litter picks and meet new people, and give up a couple of hours of your time once or twice a month. If either of these sound up your street – provide your information here.
Medium – If you have a bit more time you could get involved in our Plastic Free Cheshire/Sustainable Cheshire project. This involves one or more of the following activities: Engaging with the community where you live around litter and single use plastic. Talking to business to encourage them to reduce single use plastic. Engaging with local schools.
We need to support at the following events:
- Vegan Fair – 14th May, Outside Chester Town Hall
- Green Exposition -16th to 18th June, Castle Drive, Chester
- Festival for the Future 9th July, St Marys Creative Space, Chester
- Festival for the Future, 23rd July, Northwich Museums
- Great Big Green Week Cheshire Festival, 24th September, Grosvenor Park Chester
More– why not become part of our Steering Group and help us to make Cheshire the most sustainable place to live, through green projects, tackling litter, reducing single use plastic and helping people reduce their carbon footprint… Interested in event planning? We are always working on a few events at any one time.
If you are on the fence about diving into a new volunteer experience or have doubts about whether or not volunteering is right for you, you might find yourself surprised at just how much you can gain from taking the plunge. Why not speak to one of the team and ask any questions. Email office@sustainablecheshire.uk witgh your contact information.
Sustainable Cheshire 