Thanking volunteers across Bucks, Beds and Herts
This week marks the 37th annual Volunteers’ Week
During a difficult year volunteers have played a vital role in supporting communities across Bucks, Beds & Herts.
Volunteers week runs from 1st-7th June and is an opportunity to recognise those who have given their time over the last year to make a difference to others.
Cheryl volunteers at Community Impact Bucks as a key matcher for the Volunteering Matching Service.
She told us during the pandemic they had over 1800 people sign up to become volunteers.
In April Cheryl matched the 1000th volunteer in Buckinghamshire, she told us some of the roles they have found volunteers for:
"One of the organisations which has asked us for lots of volunteers during the pandemic is the Lindengate Mental Health Charity, we've also helped find delivery drivers for a hot meal delivery service which has been run by the Claire Foundation and we've also helped local hospitals who have come to us and asked for volunteers to go out into various hospitals in the county, helping out in various roles."
Fiona Phimester is a volunteer fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer and was Highly Commended in the volunteer category of Bucks Women in Charity Awards earlier this year.
She started giving her time to raise vital funds after her mum sadly lost her fight at the end of 2010:
"She received some incredible support, some incredible help from Macmillan, not just for her, but for us as a family as well. Mum was very frightened and daunted by what was happening and they put everyone's minds at rest. they were so calm, reassuring, they clicked their fingers and things just happened to make life that little bit easier for everybody."
Fiona’s fundraising ideas include taking part in Macmillan Mighty Hike events, village curry nights, cake sales and bacon butty mornings.
In the last 10 years Fiona has raised over £100,000 for Macmillian.
You can find out more about volunteering and find your local volunteer centre including Community Impact Bucks, Community Action Bedfordshire and Dacorum Volunteer Centre here.