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This February we're celebrating, as GoVolHerts turns four! And just in time for our anniversary, earlier this month we hit 10,000 registered volunteers and 600 registered organisations , an incredible milestone for our Hertfordshire volunteering community! GoVolHerts itself has built on the earlier success of #TeamHertsVolunteering and we are extremely proud to continue going from strength to strength. Thank you to everyone who's been part of our ongoing development. In this last year we've seen a wider range of opportunities than ever, more volunteers and organisations proactively using the volunteer pool to find connections and a nearly six-fold increase in volunteering applications since GoVolHerts launched! We average around 10,000 visitors a month and receive ever more enquiries. One thing we pride ourselves on at GoVolHerts is that we're not only facilitating a connecting place for organisations and passionate, committed potential volunteers, but with volunteering being our passion, we go much further - to support you, celebrate the unique contribution of volunteers, raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering, showcase the amazing work of local non-profit organisations and the impact it has and help people to get involved in a wide range of opportunities that meet their interests and circumstances. Whilst it is incredible that we have so many of you registered with the site, numbers are not what matter most to us. It's the overall impact of potential for volunteer support for Hertfordshire charities and community groups and their service users. Increasing the number of volunteers means organisations can potentially involve more volunteers from different backgrounds, ages, skills and experiences. With our platform that matches interests and flexibility with relevant positions, it's even easier to connect the two. So whether a charity needs digital support, event help, befriending, admin support, trustees, transport, club management or occasional hands-on assistance, we hope to have something for everyone. To ensure that we go from strength to strength and remain a place that supports both organisations and volunteers, we would love to hear your feedback and experience of the GoVolHerts platform. If you have 5 minutes to spare, you can share your feedback here or if you have additional feedback please do email us [email protected] Thank you so much to every volunteer who has given their time, every charity on a mission and every group that has joined our network. Here's to four more years, and beyond!

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