The creativity and commitment from volunteer managers never ceases to amaze me.  I was overjoyed when Hyde Park Source’s Behla reached out to the network to say that they were planning a sports day for volunteers and would like to invite other organisations to bring volunteers along.  What an amazing idea!  Loads of people get into volunteering so that they can make new friends and connect with others.  This was the perfect opportunity to widen those connections even further, via the joy of a sack race!

When we were writing the volunteering strategy we spoke to lots of volunteers who talked about how important it is to make new friends through volunteering and how volunteering can be a great way to reduce isolation.  This got us thinking, how can we create a sense of community between all volunteers in Leeds, begin to connect people who volunteer in different charities?  What if volunteers felt a part of a huge movement of people who give their time for the benefit of others?  The approach that Behla and Hyde Park Source has taken, opening their arms to other organisations and volunteers, is a huge leap forward creating this community.  Being tied to a person you’ve never met before to run the three-legged race is a perfect foundation for a new friendship!

Here’s hoping this becomes an annual event with more teams from more charities.  I’ll certainly be dusting my trainers off and limbering up for the most fun volunteering event of the year.

By Andrina Dawson, Volunteering and Capacity Building Manager, Voluntary Action Leeds

Voluntary Action Leeds

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