"Engages you with your community, you learn and develop new skills, meet new people, improves your self-esteem and without a doubt will make you more a positive and happier person"

Youth volunteering plays a vital role in building stronger communities, offering young people the chance to develop skills, experience, confidence and a sense of purpose while giving their time to something meaningful. At Growing Resilience in Teens (GRIT), volunteers are included as part of their community, helping to create stable foundations within their structure, raise funds and support the mission of enabling young people to thrive. GRIT is a charity based in North Hertfordshire that supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 11 to 24. Through group programmes, workshops and one-to-one coaching, GRIT helps young people build confidence, resilience and learn practical tools to cope with life’s challenges, empowering them to feel stronger and more in control of their futures. We spoke to one of GRIT's volunteers, Albert, who manages their Vinted account, not only raising vital funds needed for the charity, but also creating awareness of what the charity do, collecting donations, listing them and posting them. What first inspired you to start volunteering at GRIT and what motivates you to continue? I was actually one of GRIT’s young people back in 2019, so I already knew what a great charity they are. Years later, I was encouraged by the Jobcentre to look into volunteering. They recommended to check out GoVolHerts so I did and I saw GRIT were looking for someone to run their Vinted account and it immediately stood out to me. I’d already been selling on my own Vinted account, so it felt like a perfect match. Volunteering now feels like a full-circle moment and a way to give back. Can you share a moment or experience in your role that was especially rewarding or meaningful? There isn’t one big standout moment. Aside from photographing, packaging and sending items most of the work I do is from my laptop in bed but seeing sales come through and knowing they’re helping fund GRIT’s work is always a good feeling. What is the best part of your volunteering role and why does it stand out to you? The flexibility really stands out to me. Being able to volunteer in a way that fits around my routine while still making a meaningful contribution makes the role enjoyable. How has volunteering changed you or made a difference to your life? Volunteering has given me a sense of purpose. It’s nice having something to focus on that feels productive and worthwhile, rather than just filling time, and knowing it’s actually making a difference. Is there anything you’d like to say to other young people considering volunteering? You don’t have to be perfect or have it all figured out to volunteer. If you’re good at something already, there’s probably a way to use it and still keep it enjoyable. Albert is a great example of how volunteering doesn’t always look the same — and how small, consistent actions can make a big difference. By organising and running GRIT’s Vinted account, Albert helps turn donated items into vital funds that directly support GRIT’s work with young people. His role shows how creativity, organisation and commitment can be just as powerful as being front-and-centre, and how youth volunteering can fit around individual strengths while still making a real impact. See more of GRIT's volunteer opportunities here .

Margaret was referred to Reach Out by a GP Link Worker. Reach Out support those facing potential loneliness who are medically vulnerable, having recently left hospital or being at risk of hospital admission. They do this by connecting clients with a befriender, for companionship, getting out and about and some regular connection. At the time, Margaret was living with mild cognitive impairment and receiving support from the frailty team. Like many people in similar situations, Margaret was spending a lot of time on her own so it was felt that having a befriender could offer her companionship, reassurance and perhaps even give her the confidence to get out and about again. Enter, Sharon. Sharon is a volunteer at Reach Out and upon asking if she would be happy to be matched with Margaret, she didn’t hesitate. After learning about Margaret’s mild cognitive impairment and that things might take time, Sharon was keen to help, if anything, it made her even more determined to help. Their first contact was a phone call… which lasted 45 minutes! They had plenty to talk about and an immediate connection. When they first met in person, they got on really well, but Margaret understandably struggled at first to remember who Sharon was and when she would be visiting. Sharon came up with a simple but brilliant plan. She photocopied her Reach Out ID badge and left a copy by Margaret’s diary, so Margaret could check each day who was coming and when. It worked a treat. Before long, Margaret was ready and waiting when Sharon knocked on the door, knowing exactly who to expect. Soon, their visits began to include trips out together - something Margaret now looks forward to enormously. These days, they love nothing more than heading out for a Coke, some peanuts and a good old chin wag. Being able to get out of the house has made a real difference to Margaret’s mental health and feelings of loneliness. As Sharon explains: "Margaret spends a lot of time in her flat on her own and really looks forward to my visits so she can have a change of scenery and to do something different. Most times I take a picture and send it to her so she'll have something to remind her of where we've been and what we've done." Margaret worries about her memory and Sharon’s weekly visits have become a reassuring constant in her life. Sharon has also been mindful of how Margaret experiences her memory loss. Margaret can remember the distant past but struggles with more recent events and has shared that some people can be abrupt when she repeats herself, which causes her anxiety. " I tell her it does not matter ,” Sharon says, “e veryone forgets things and it’s okay to be told things more than once. We keep things light and relaxed, have a giggle and always have fun during my visits . Sharon encourages Margaret’s independence and always speaks positively to her, helping to build confidence rather than anxiety. And the impact goes both ways. " I am pleased to be able to make a difference and help someone who is alone ," Sharon says. " I look forward to the visits. It’s helped me gain insight and understanding of dementia so I can support people better and not cause distress ." She adds that the visits help her too, " I struggle to relax, so it’s good to sit and chat and eat cake. When I leave, Margaret shouts ‘Love Ya’ - and my heart hurts ." Volunteers like Sharon, who give their time, compassion and creativity to support vulnerable people in our community, make such a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Stories like Sharon and Margaret’s remind us why befriending is so important, particularly during seasons when people may feel more isolated. If you’d like to read more about the impact of befriending and why it matters now more than ever, you can explore our other blogs on befriending and community connection. Or explore some of our befriending opportunities here - Could you be a befriender? | GoVolHerts

At GoVolHerts, we are continually inspired by the incredible individuals who choose to give their time, skills, and passion to support charities across Hertfordshire. We are delighted to showcase Melissa, a dedicated volunteer who discovered her trustee role through GoVolHerts and has since made a remarkable impact in her community. Melissa’s journey is a wonderful reminder of how volunteering can open unexpected doors, foster personal growth, and strengthen the organisations at the heart of our communities. 1. What motivated you to apply for a trustee role, and how did GoVolHerts help you find the right opportunity? “When I left my role running an international organisation in 2024 I knew I would have more time to commit to voluntary work alongside a new career, it was important to me that it was something in my local community and I wanted to use my skills from serving on Boards & Committees in a different way. My sister has worked in social care and the charity sector for years as an professional and as a trustee and guided me to check out GoVolHerts for opportunities. The GoVolHerts website made it really easy to find, filter, research and contact an organisation all in one portal.” 2. Can you describe your first few weeks as a trustee and any surprises or highlights you experienced? “Initially as a prospective trustee I was invited to meet with the organisation’s CEO & Chair, we had a long, informal chat about the charity, my skills and background and where I could add value from what they had seen on my CV, I was invited to attend a meeting and ask questions then made the decision to join and was voted in. I was able to really hit the ground running by helping to update the trustee induction process, I did a lot of reading of the organisations documents and policies, and spent time visiting the services and staff to better understand how everything fit together. There is a huge amount of information and resources available online to support becoming a trustee, I was surprised how many online forums, LinkedIn groups, etc. there were that gave advice. Having access to training through HCF did a lot to relieve my nerves about the weight of my duties.” 3. How has your trustee role allowed you to make an impact in your community? “Since becoming a trustee I have been able to support and promote many of our fundraising initiatives; networking and using social media to drive attention to our campaigns and rebranding has helped us to attract donations and grants that allow us to run our services even through challenging times. There have also been opportunities to support clients directly with our keyworkers, such as joining them on homeless outreach walks or providing second hand furniture for our HMOs, the feedback from our clients made it clear how hard our staff work and the confidence and reassurance they get from Resolve.” 4. What advice would you give to someone considering applying for a trustee position through GoVolHerts? “Take your time to review the different options available, find a cause that really speaks to you and consider what skills you can bring from your own personal/professional life. Speak to someone you already know about their time as a trustee and reach out to the organisation you’re considering, spend time chatting with them and ask questions, be curious! Visit the organisation in person if possible to see how they work and what they do. Lastly – GO FOR IT!” 5. Has being a trustee changed the way you view volunteering or community work? If so, how? “I feel much better informed about changes and decisions being made at local and national level that impact the provision of services in my community, I now realise how much I can benefit in building my own knowledge and skills as part of the board while also serving the community. Since working with Resolve as a trustee, I can see how varied the options are for ways to support a charity as a volunteer. Being a trustee also helped me to pursue working in the charity sector as my day job too!” Melissa’s story is a testament to the power of volunteering, not just to support others, but to transform our own lives. We are proud to have helped her find a meaningful trustee role, and we hope her journey inspires others to explore the many opportunities available. To find volunteer roles, click here .