"Sue Ryder Stagenhoe was like our home, we were one big family"

Meet Opal Reid, Volunteer at North Herts & Stevenage CVS - GoVolHerts and Community Transport I am an Admin Support Volunteer for two NHCVS Projects - GoVolHerts and Community Transport. When I retired my plan was to do some volunteer work, with a different focus to my old role or to use those skills to help a not for profit organisation. Then the pandemic happened which gave me time to research and find something that was interesting as well as giving me some new skills. Making a difference is something we can all do by being open to supporting the needs of the organisation you work with. Volunteering is not only about giving your time but about what you want to gain from the experience, which for me was giving something back and gaining new skills that can be used in other areas of my life. I am very lucky working with Katie and Jon and being part of such an inclusive organisation as NHCVS"

Meet Jenny, volunteer for Penniwells Riding for the Disabled and Garden Manager at the Random Cafe. What volunteer role do you do and w hy did you start volunteering? Currently I volunteer for Penniwells Riding for the Disabled and i am the volunteer garden manager at the Random Cafe. My first experience of volunteering was through my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award age 15. I started volunteering with Riding for the Disabled in 2010 as a way to start leaving the house following a period of agoraphobia and anorexia. I have found a Riding for the Disabled Group wherever I have been staying/living in the country since then. Penniwells Riding for the Disabled is my 4 th group. I joined them while I was in a mental health hospital nearby. It helped me with my mental health recovery and gave be a reason to work towards keeping my leave from the unit each week. It was also the reason I stayed in the area when I was discharged from hospital. How you make a difference? In my current roles I am able to help care for the horses and ensure they are ready for our riders. I then help support the riders during their lessons whether that be so they can benefit for their mental health, physical health or both. Some riders require a team of three volunteers per lesson to assist them. Some of the extra events and competitions require extra help, whether it be costume making in advance or an extra pair of hands on the day. At the Random Cafe I manage a team of volunteers who assist me in keeping the gardens tidy and organised so we can grow plants and crops to sell to raise funds that go back into the project. I also build garden items such as planters out of reclaimed wood, which are also sold to fund the project. Not only is this saving materials from landfill but it is encouraging others to grow their own to help the environment. Why would you recommend volunteering to others? I sometimes feel slightly selfish in why I volunteer because although it does help benefit other individuals and the community as a whole, I know how much it has increased my confidence and helped keep my mental health well and more stable. I think often people feel that they don't have any qualifications or skills to offer, but often that's not what is needed. It is simply time and willingness to try that is appreciated. There are two mottos I think volunteering sits well with; firstly the RDA motto "Its what you can do that counts" and secondly Tescos "Every little helps"

Following the pandemic and 25 years working at a senior level in global mobility, Peter's outlook on life changed. Mentoring with MCR Pathways gave him an opportunity to give back, whilst he reassessed his life and where he wanted to take his career. It resulted in being life changing for Peter. A role opened up, giving Peter a perfect opportunity to further something he was passionate about, whilst using his valuable knowledge, life experience and expertise to help build this platform to recruit more mentors for young people. MCR Pathways supports vulnerable young people in the care system, or who have previously been in the care system. Or who have other hardships in their lives to realise their full potential. We do this by providing mentoring in school during term time to help these young vulnerable students to reach their full potential in school and life despite their difficult circumstances. So they are defined by their talent and not their circumstances. We are looking for volunteer mentors for these young people, for one hour a week, for a minimum of one year, in your local area. You could really change a young persons future. MCR Pathways are seeking volunteer mentors over the age of 21, to work in Herts schools to make a life changing difference to a disadvantaged young person. No specific experience or skills are required, just the ability to be there for the young person, to listen and to care. Mentors are needed at our schools in Cheshunt, Hemel, Hertford, Stevenage, Tring and Watford