Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2020) celebrated all those who step forward and help in their communities for free. Last week we sent our message of thanks across social media, and reiterate it here, to everyone who volunteers with the Southmead Development Trust at the Greenway Centre, Southmead Youth Centre, and Southmead Adventure Playground.
Every year many Southmead Residents volunteer to help out at events including the Southmead Festival and the annual Christmas Panto. Across the wider community volunteers support our teams Neighbours Connect Southmead and Social Prescribing, which help residents in times of need such as during depression and isolation.
From being supported by volunteers, residents have gone on to become volunteers themselves and have helped to set up interest groups with growing numbers of participants meeting weekly – Greenway Walkers, Southmead Creative Writers and Play Your Cards Right. Strong friendships have been formed and skills have been developed in arts, crafts and gardening. At the Trust we offer guidance to volunteers and often support new groups when they start up.
In some cases volunteers have subsequently become paid employees at the Trust, and in turn then support new volunteers. The Trust is run by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation.
Across our community it is groups of volunteers who help to make vital local change – Team Southmead, Inclusion Southmead, The SCART Shop, the Regeneration project, BS10 Parks and Planning, Friends of Southmead Library, Sustainable Southmead and The Mead. And these volunteers, joined by many others, have stepped up during the current pandemic to deliver meals, collect shopping and prescriptions, befriend isolated neighbours and share information.
Volunteers make our community go round and we send every single one a MASSIVE THANK YOU!
Please get in touch if you would like further info about volunteering with us.
Email: info@southmead.org or telephone: 0117 950 3335
