1500th volunteer placed in Buckinghamshire by Volunteer Matching Service
Registered volunteers matched where most needed in the county
1500 volunteers have been mobilised into essential roles across the county by the Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service since its establishment two years ago.
The Volunteer Matching Service is run by local charity Community Impact Bucks in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, and was set up in Spring 2020 to support local communities during the pandemic. The Service now matches Bucks residents into non-pandemic volunteer roles across the county including those supporting activities welcoming and settling Ukrainian refugees in the county.
The 1500th volunteer to be matched was Solène based near Aylesbury: “I was really excited to hear about the roles available with Action for Children which provides short respite for disabled children up to 19 years old across Bucks. I always wanted to organise interesting activities for disabled children and the Volunteer Matching Service found the right charity for me.”
“This milestone is a great reflection of the amazing community spirit that exists in the county,” commented Katie Higginson, Chief Executive of Community Impact Bucks. “While the need for volunteers responding to the pandemic has fallen, there is a huge demand for people to help in a wide range of roles – whether that is helping our elderly and our young people, supporting an essential service being delivered in our towns and villages, or helping Ukrainian refugees in the county. There are so many ways that people can really make a difference.”
In the past two years, the Volunteer Matching Service has helped volunteers from all walks of life find volunteer roles to suit their skills and preferences, including:
- Administration and patient flow volunteers in healthcare settings
- Befrienders for people who are isolated and mentors helping offenders resettle into the community and young people who are leaving care or at risk of criminal exploitation
- Community activities including sports clubs, gardening and allotment growing, volunteering in museums and assisting in cafes and charity shops
- Community transport drivers providing lifts to medical appointments and social activities for those who can’t access public transport or get there on their own.
Bucks residents can find out more about the Volunteer Matching Service, including how to register by visiting the Volunteer Matching Service webpage. There are currently over 65 volunteer roles ready to be filled including:
- Community-based interpreter support for Ukrainian refugees in the county
- Outdoor volunteer roles including livestock champion, outdoor learning co-ordinator, farm helper, gardeners supporting mental health service or general management of conservation areas
- Roles working with young people including supporting youth clubs and young people who are leaving care or at risk of criminal exploitation
- Volunteer positions tackling isolation such as volunteer drivers and café team members serving at seniors’ coffee mornings
- Befriending roles via telephone or through a regular activity or hobby with a physically disabled adult
- Administrative roles ranging from producing scripts to creating ‘talking newspapers’ to taking minutes and helping vital services run smoothly.
To read about the experiences of several Volunteer Matching Service volunteers, go to our case studies webpage (select Volunteer Matching Service).
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For any media enquiries, please contact Rachel Fisher at Community Impact Bucks: rachel@communityimpactbucks.org.uk/ 01844 617216
Notes:
- Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service is run by Community Impact Bucks in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, and matches registered volunteers to roles where they are most needed in the county.
- Community Impact Bucks is an independent charity that supports people and groups to get involved and make a difference in Buckinghamshire communities. We offer expert advice and training, help people to find volunteering opportunities, and help charities and not for profit groups to get started, be effective and grow.
