Over 8,000 Leeds residents registered as Community Care Volunteers in response to the COVID-19 crisis, to ensure that those in the greatest of need were able to access support. Voluntary Action Leeds and Leeds City Council established the programme, which matches volunteers with vulnerable people in need of help with a range of tasks – from shopping deliveries to dog walking.  To make this possible, a network of 27 local third sector organisations were established known as ‘Community Hubs’.  These organisations are delivering the volunteer programme locally, across all 33 wards in Leeds.

Many Community Care Volunteers have said volunteering has helped them to learn new skills and increased their confidence. This is certainly the case for 12 year old volunteer, Billy Hussain, who’s commitment to helping Hamara community hub has been unyielding throughout the crisis. Now back at school for part of the week, Billy still manages to commit his spare time to helping out at the community hub which serves the Middleton Park and Belle Isle ward of the city, as well as providing a city wide Cultural Food service.  Billy’s experience of volunteering was shared back in June on the Doing Good Leeds blog and can be found in here – .

VAL project worker, Claire Graham, paid Billy another visit and they made this short film together which gives a great snapshot of a day in the life of one of the busiest community hubs in the city.

There are still a small number of volunteer places available at Hamara.  If you are available during the day time Monday to Friday, have access to a vehicle and can help out with food parcel  deliveries and shopping, the Hamara Centre would love to hear from you. Please send a brief declaration of interest to Suzanne Garnett  –  suzzivolunteer@gmail.com, Volunteer Coordinator at the Hamara.

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