Celebrating our amazing volunteers
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It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re celebrating all of the amazing people who generously give their time to help our charity.
Here, our director Patrick tells us more…
Delivering fifteen services across Greater Manchester and Lancashire that support many thousands of individuals and families every year is a huge undertaking.
People come to us at times of crisis and our teams are with them every step of the way as they transform their lives. Whether they’re experiencing homelessness, poverty, discrimination or isolation, we’re there standing alongside people, whatever their goals and dreams may be.
We can only do that thanks to the support of our volunteers.
We’re incredibly lucky to have almost 200 volunteers who selflessly give their time to share their skills, knowledge and experience in so many ways.
Some are people who have accessed – or still access – our services, who want to help others in the same or a similar situation to them.
Others are people who want to share their talents, while some simply want to know they are doing something good that benefits others in their community.
Businesses also volunteer their time – whether giving some pro-bono advice or spending hours together as a team working in our community allotment or in one of our day centres.
Whatever the reason or motivation behind the support of our volunteers, we are really, really grateful and know that we simply wouldn’t be able to deliver so many services without this huge number of volunteers.
A few years ago, we were thrilled that our volunteers were honoured by King Charles with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
It’s the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE.
It really shined a light on the team we have here at Caritas, and highlighted just what a difference their support makes.
This week, we’ll also be shining that spotlight on just some of the volunteers that make up our team, and, on Friday, we’ll also be holding a special celebration event to say thank you to as many as possible in person.
So, I’d like to start this special week by saying a big thank you to everyone who volunteers with Caritas Salford. It truly does make a huge difference to the lives of the families and individuals we work with:
“Thank you. I appreciate all the help and support I’ve received. I’m ready to move on and I can’t wait to move into my own property soon with my child.”
Person accessing our services
“I’d like to thank you for all your help recently. I was in a really hard place but have come out of it now and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Person accessing our services
“I’m only where I am because you made me feel I could do it and you never stopped believing in me, which is something which hasn’t happened much in my life.”
Person accessing our services
The impact our volunteers have is incredible. We’d love to hear from you if you’d be interested in joining our volunteering team too. Even an hour or two of support can make a massive difference so please do get in touch.
We not only have opportunities for individuals, but for businesses and community groups too. You can share your skills and knowledge with others, and also learn new ones from our teams and the people who access our services too.
You can find out more about the opportunities on offer by clicking here: www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer/
And if you want to know more about our corporate volunteering, you can read more here: www.caritassalford.org.uk/team-volunteering-days-and-sponsorship/
Or, if you’d like to chat about other ways you can support Caritas through volunteering, why not contact Matt from our team who would be happy to help: Email volunteering@caritassalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2250.
Thanks again to every one of our volunteers. I hope you enjoy Volunteers’ Week.