The Power of Volunteering

Parish magazine article October 2024

One of the joys and challenges of ‘vicaring’ is overseeing, encouraging, and supporting the wide range of volunteers who work together in our various projects and activities. Across the area, we have over 200 volunteers from many different faiths and beliefs who share a common desire to make a positive difference.

Projects like the Foodbank, GIFT and the Bereavement Cafe are focused on meeting specific needs in the area. Others, such as Meeting Point, our board game nights, food-based events, community challenges, concerts, and even this newsheet, aim to bring people together and grow communities by helping individuals strengthen old friendships and make new ones. All these projects and activities are only possible because of the huge number of people who volunteer their time.

Outside of these church-led projects and activities, many other amazing volunteer groups are doing great work across our villages and the wider area. It’s probably safe to say that most of us have volunteered our time, talents and ideas at some point in our lives. Whether that’s been at school, with a sports team, at a church, or in one of many community groups. And although volunteering can require a lot of time and energy (and can sometimes seem very challenging), people do it because they find it satisfying and enjoyable, because they’re working with others to make a positive difference.

One of the things that makes our communities so strong and special places to live is the number of voluntary groups and organisations that are at work within them. So, thank you to everyone who volunteers in our communities. You are amazing!

As well as the difference being made to the community, and the satisfaction we can feel from working with others to make a difference, scientific studies identify many potential health benefits from volunteering:

· Reduced isolation and loneliness from interacting with others

· A sense of purpose and of making a difference from working toward a shared goal

· Increased self-confidence from learning new skills, meeting new people, achieving a goal

· Improved mood and reduced stress and anxiety

· Learning skills that can transfer to the workplace or towards career goals

· Meeting potential employers and gaining a foothold toward future employment

· Decreased pain and lower blood pressure

· Decreased mortality or increased longevity

On that last point, a 2012 study showed that regular volunteers seem to live longer on average than those who have not served actively as volunteers. However, psychologist David Susman reports that a fascinating twist discovered in the study was, “that the lower mortality rate was specifically associated with a motive by the volunteers to help others.” The research shows that volunteering is clearly associated with a variety of physical and mental health benefits, but more so if you are truly invested in making a difference to help others.

When Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” It wasn’t just because that was the right thing to do for our neighbours, but also for ourselves.

Many of our local organisations are always looking for new volunteers. GIFT is expanding its refugee support (see overleaf), and there are many other opportunities to get involved in local groups and make a difference.

If you've not done much volunteering for a while, why not give it a try? Find something that you're passionate about, somewhere that you’d like to make a difference, and reach out to offer your help. As we lend a hand, we make a difference, help grow community and improve our well-being.

Rev Barry Jackson