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21 May 2010 15:38:50
The positive benefits of volunteering are being highlighted by the University which is promoting national Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June.
A volunteers’ fair in St George’s Square in Luton on Thursday 3 June will showcase the activities of local community groups, and visitors can also take part in ‘taster’ sessions to learn more about the work of different volunteer-involving organisations.
The event is being organised by Volunteer Centre Luton in partnership with Vinvolved Luton, a charity working with young people aged 16 to 25, and UB Volunteering, the University of Bedfordshire’s volunteering team. Among the organisations taking part in the fair, which runs from 10am to 3pm, are Keech Hospice Care, Young Enterprise East of England and Bloodrunners, a network of motorcyclists which transports blood products to hospitals across southern England free of charge.
Community Projects Co-ordinator Zane Dzerina said: “Volunteering Week celebrates the fantastic contribution that millions of volunteers make on a regular basis across the UK. Volunteering can offer so much to individuals in terms of personal satisfaction and enjoyment, plus the opportunity to put skills and learning to practical use and enhance employability.”
It is estimated that three out of four employers would employ a candidate with volunteering experience over one without*; learning new skills and undertaking voluntary work can also enhance an employee’s chances of promotion and earning a higher salary.
“The fair will be a great opportunity for students and staff at the University to meet and talk directly to people working in the voluntary sector in Luton, learn more about how to get involved in the local community and register with projects on the day,” said Zane.
Marwa Qari, who is in the first year of her LLB Law degree, has been volunteering since last October at the Tree House Chaplaincy, greeting visitors to the centre, answering the queries of new students and ensuring the building is clean and tidy.
She said: “Volunteering has helped me become more confident and I have gained extra experience in meeting people. It is also fun and engaging and does not seem like work. Another reason I volunteer is that I like to keep busy so it’s a productive filler of my time.”
*Source TimeBank
