LET’S Fix It Together – support your local community organisation

Make it your New Year’s resolution to get involved and volunteer with local community groups. Volunteering isn’t just about helping and supporting others. Volunteering can also help you personally a wide range of ways – from improving your own wellbeing and mental health, to developing new skills to meeting new people and being better connected to you community.

Bury has a strong community, voluntary and faith sector which provides many vital services for individuals across the borough including some of our most vulnerable residents. But from sports clubs through to befriending services and food banks these groups can only work and support residents thanks to the volunteers who give their valuable time and energy.

From supporting people with the cost of living to helping out with the environment there’s something for everyone.

Bury Voluntary, Community, Faith Alliance (VCFA) is the borough’s local infrastructure organisation for the voluntary sector and has a lot of information about volunteering opportunities.

Working with Bury Council it has developed the Volunteering Strategy for the borough to develop and support volunteering activities and volunteers. It sets out the benefits of volunteering and commits organisations to support volunteers and make sure they are valued and recognised, and to provide diverse opportunities.

There’s a number of ways to take part:

• You can find local opportunities to volunteer at https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/volunteering/volunteering-bulletin/ and https://www.bury.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/bury-live-well-service/volunteer

• Find local groups and events to support: https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/local-events/ and https://theburydirectory.co.uk/?page=1
• Join the Bury VCFA volunteer bank: https://www.vcconnectsystem.org.uk/BuryVcfaVMS2/VmsAccount/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fBuryVcfaVMS2%2fVolunteerProfile
• Sign up to the volunteer bulletin: volunteering@buryvcfa.org.uk

Cllr Richard Gold, Cabinet Member for Communities and Finance, Bury Council said: “Thank you to everyone who volunteers in Bury. You are vital to the services that are provided and play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of local communities.

“Volunteers freely give their time for the good of their community and are supported by hundreds of local volunteer-involving groups and organisations. These organisations and volunteers play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of local communities and are key to the success of the ‘Let’s Do It’ strategy for the borough – where all are able to play a part in local communities and where we work together in a way that recognises and celebrates the assets and strengths of our communities and our residents.

“Working with the VCFA the council is committed to provide the support to those organisations and individuals that they need to help the residents of Bury. This year we have provided around £140,000 of cost of living grants to 40 groups alongside other funding opportunities.”

Helen Tomlinson, Chief Officer, Bury VCFA added: “People volunteer for many reasons – to ‘give something back,’ help others in their community, meet new people, try something new or develop new skills.

“Whatever the reason, volunteering can have a huge impact on health and wellbeing, building strength in communities and bringing people from different backgrounds together.

“Types of volunteering and the way people volunteer has changed – informal and ‘micro’ volunteering, (for short bursts of time), are now more commonplace.

“If you are thinking of giving something back to the community please look on our website for the opportunities available.”