30/10/24
VOLUNTEERING AND VOLUNTEERS
A non-league football club like ours thrives thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Whether helping on match days or during the week, they are, without a doubt, the heartbeat of the club. Time is one of life’s most valuable assets, and we’re incredibly grateful to the approximately 50 volunteers who generously give theirs to support us.
While our club benefits from committed volunteers, many community groups and charities face a struggle to recruit them. Fortunately, a fantastic new initiative now highlights volunteer roles available in Slough and nearby areas. I was lucky to join a steering group that showcases volunteer contributions while helping to promote available opportunities.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to support organizations, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact. But do you know where to find these opportunities?
Introducing the Volunteer Passport by Slough CVS
Slough CVS (Slough Council for Voluntary Services) has launched the Volunteer Passport. This service offers a single, centralized platform where organizations can post roles, and prospective volunteers can explore them. The process is straightforward: the passport will ask you a few simple questions, including:
• How much time you can volunteer each week
• How far you’re willing to travel
• What skills you can offer
• Which activities you’re interested in
The passport also includes a keyword search, allowing you to filter for specific areas of interest. You don’t need to scroll through every opportunity; just choose your preferences, and the passport will match you with current vacancies. Organizations, groups, or charities can also sign up to post available roles, providing a rich database of opportunities for volunteers.
Who Can Volunteer?
If you’ve considered volunteering but weren’t sure where to start, the Volunteer Passport makes it easy. Some roles require only a couple of hours a week, some are remote-friendly, and you can specify your availability and preferred commitment level. Even if you don’t feel entirely qualified, many organizations offer free training to help you succeed in your role. To give you an idea of available roles, organizations currently need drivers for Meals on Wheels, Health & Safety advisors, retail assistants, and Dementia Champions.
If you sign up for the passport and don’t see a suitable opportunity right away, your details will be kept on file for future roles that may match your interests.
Volunteering offers immense benefits to both volunteers and the organizations they serve. Many groups depend on the help of committed individuals and are incredibly grateful for any support they receive. At Slough Town, we occasionally take our volunteers for granted, so our new owners hosted an end-of-season party in May to show appreciation for their hard work—regardless of weather or task.
If this article has inspired you to consider volunteering, visit the Slough CVS website at sloughcvs.org and explore the Volunteering section, where you can sign up for the Volunteer Passport or view current roles.
If you know any local charities, sports groups, or community organizations interested in collaboration, please feel free to email me at adrian.gomm@sloughtownfc.net.
Adrian Gomm
Community Manager
A non-league football club like ours thrives thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Whether helping on match days or during the week, they are, without a doubt, the heartbeat of the club. Time is one of life’s most valuable assets, and we’re incredibly grateful to the approximately 50 volunteers who generously give theirs to support us.
While our club benefits from committed volunteers, many community groups and charities face a struggle to recruit them. Fortunately, a fantastic new initiative now highlights volunteer roles available in Slough and nearby areas. I was lucky to join a steering group that showcases volunteer contributions while helping to promote available opportunities.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to support organizations, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact. But do you know where to find these opportunities?
Introducing the Volunteer Passport by Slough CVS
Slough CVS (Slough Council for Voluntary Services) has launched the Volunteer Passport. This service offers a single, centralized platform where organizations can post roles, and prospective volunteers can explore them. The process is straightforward: the passport will ask you a few simple questions, including:
• How much time you can volunteer each week
• How far you’re willing to travel
• What skills you can offer
• Which activities you’re interested in
The passport also includes a keyword search, allowing you to filter for specific areas of interest. You don’t need to scroll through every opportunity; just choose your preferences, and the passport will match you with current vacancies. Organizations, groups, or charities can also sign up to post available roles, providing a rich database of opportunities for volunteers.
Who Can Volunteer?
If you’ve considered volunteering but weren’t sure where to start, the Volunteer Passport makes it easy. Some roles require only a couple of hours a week, some are remote-friendly, and you can specify your availability and preferred commitment level. Even if you don’t feel entirely qualified, many organizations offer free training to help you succeed in your role. To give you an idea of available roles, organizations currently need drivers for Meals on Wheels, Health & Safety advisors, retail assistants, and Dementia Champions.
If you sign up for the passport and don’t see a suitable opportunity right away, your details will be kept on file for future roles that may match your interests.
Volunteering offers immense benefits to both volunteers and the organizations they serve. Many groups depend on the help of committed individuals and are incredibly grateful for any support they receive. At Slough Town, we occasionally take our volunteers for granted, so our new owners hosted an end-of-season party in May to show appreciation for their hard work—regardless of weather or task.
If this article has inspired you to consider volunteering, visit the Slough CVS website at sloughcvs.org and explore the Volunteering section, where you can sign up for the Volunteer Passport or view current roles.
If you know any local charities, sports groups, or community organizations interested in collaboration, please feel free to email me at adrian.gomm@sloughtownfc.net.
Adrian Gomm
Community Manager
Copyright 2024 Slough Town F.C. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.sloughtownfc.net as the source.