Having worked away a lot and retired a bit early, I wanted to put something back into my local community in Harborough. But I wasn’t sure what would suit me or if anyone would want my time!
My first volunteering role was with Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL). I had heard about their community driver scheme and thought this might be a good fit for me. I met the VASL transport team to find out more about what might be involved and the rest was history!
Driving for VASL for nearly ten years has been very rewarding. I enjoy being able to help others get to important appointments - on time and with as little stress as possible. It adds a bit of purpose and structure to my week. I also like the challenge of planning the appointments and making sure each client is well looked after and treated with respect.
I am also an LCC Environment Action Volunteer (EAV) specialising in composting and waste reduction. This fits in well with my driving as I can choose what I do and which events to run or support. It is often outdoors in green spaces and involves a bit of well needed exercise. I really enjoyed learning the science behind the magic. It is great to help people produce beautiful rich garden compost at home and at various local community groups, allotments and schools. You really get to see the impact of your work and volunteering.
I was also a volunteer director for Harborough Solar – a community owned energy group. It was rewarding to use my business and technical skills to create local benefit and help tackle climate change. After six years, I decided to hand over the baton of responsibility and step back from quite a demanding and sometimes stressful role, but I’m still an enthusiastic investor and member of this and other climate action schemes.
Volunteering has definitely added a lot to my life and allowed me to get involved with lots of different projects after retiring. It is the perfect combination of both learning new skills and using those you have developed in your working life. I am really grateful for the opportunities it has given me and would encourage anyone to get involved.
For more information on volunteering opportunities in Leicestershire, visit our volunteering page.