Volunteer’s Week - time to get involved!

While we hear a lot about how much society owes to volunteers who give their time and energy to help others, volunteers themselves often benefit in unexpected ways from invovlement.  Aside from the ‘feel-good-factor’- many people who volunteer also report an increase in their social circle and benefits such as gaining new skills and a boost to employability.

Many may dismiss volunteering as ‘not-for-them’ but there really is something for everyone. For some people though it can be difficult to take that first little step into volunteering; maybe they’re not sure what skills they can bring or they’re worried about how much of their time it might take up. 

With this in mind Guide Dogs have come up with a great way to  help people learn more about what it’s like to volunteer with them before signing up to anything.

On 1 June, during Volunteer’s Week , Guide Dogs in partnership with Volunteer Now, will be hosting a Volunteer Taster Session in Newry Library.  This is a chance to experience a taste of volunteering as a Sighted Guide with no obligations to sign up.

To give people a snapshot of what it’s like to volunteer  Eilish Campbell,  a volunteer with Guide Dogs tells us about her experience of volunteering.

Eilish is a  mother of eight and, although she doesn’t look it, a Nan to thirteen grandchildren!  She got involved in volunteering as many people do - because a good cause touched her heart.  For some people it’s a local hospice that took care of a relative when they most needed it; for Eilish, it was the introduction to her gorgeous guide dog Dottie.

Eilish has a condition called Usher Syndrome, which affects her hearing as well as causing her peripheral vision to have significantly reduced over the years. Before Dottie, Eilish didn’t go out much, she stayed in the house and needed guiding to go anywhere.

 “Because I’m a guide dog owner and have benefited so much, I felt I wanted to give something back” she says.

Eilish is really appreciative of the support she received from Guide Dogs and wanted to help raise funds so that others like her could benefit as it costs around £50,000 to train and raise a guide dog.

She started volunteering with her local Guide Dogs fundraising team  and has organised and been involved in lots of exciting events, including an abseil down the side of a 7 storey hotel!

Aside from her work on the fundraising team, Eilish also delivers talks about Guide Dogs at schools and various events and is keen to get more involved in this side of things. Her passion for the organisation and the work they do is clear, but apart from the great feeling of knowing she is doing something good, what exactly is it that she enjoys about her volunteering?

“I love the social side of it - the craic you have and the friends you make... and sometimes volunteering can open doors for you. My youngest daughter has volunteered with Guide Dogs and when she was applying for her current job they were very interested in her volunteer experience. It might not guarantee you a job, but it definitely makes a difference on your CV”.

Eilish adds:  “I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering to attend an information day or taster session to find out more about it - it’s important to know what you’ll be volunteering for.  I’ve found that new volunteers arriving with us always bring a great new insight and fresh ideas - an enormous benefit to the fundraising team.”

Eilish believes volunteering is for everyone: “We all have different skills to offer so everyone can help in their own way.  But it is important to remember that volunteering should also be fun and enjoyable - volunteer for something you want to do”.

If you’re interested in finding out more about volunteering with Guide Dogs come along to the taster session on Friday 1st June  10am-1pm in Newry Library where you can learn the basics of being a Sighted Guide. Places are limited, so please book in advance. To register for this event or to find out more about the various volunteer opportunities available in your area email alice.murphy@volunteernow.co.uk  or call us on 028 90232020.