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At GoVolHerts, we are delighted to mark International Volunteers Day on Friday 5th December 2025, a special moment to recognise and thank the hundreds of volunteers who give their time, energy and compassion every day. Volunteers are the heartbeat of our communities, quietly stepping up in so many ways: listening, encouraging, supporting, and connecting. Their contributions may sometimes feel small, but together they create meaningful change. Whether it’s dropping in to help at a community hub, supporting someone facing difficult times, or lending a hand at local events, each act of service matters. This year, we shine a spotlight on the difference volunteering makes by showcasing the incredible work of North Herts & Stevenage Community Transport and Watford & Three Rivers Getting Together Social Clubs. Through the care, kindness and commitment of their volunteers, we see stronger communities, new friendships, better connections and brighter days. We also recognise that volunteering rewards the volunteers themselves, growth, satisfaction, belonging and purpose often follow. We are proud to collaborate on this project with our partners Community Help Hertfordshire (CHH) who join us in celebrating the spirit of volunteering. Together we invite everyone to reflect on how they might contribute, whether it’s a few hours, a regular commitment or simply offering help where it’s needed. To all our volunteers: THANK YOU! Your time, your heart and your drive make our community a better place. On 5th December and every day, we salute you!

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 .

GoVolHerts makes it very easy to find great volunteer roles and contact charities and community groups to let them know you’re interested. What happens next? It depends on the organisation and the role. Sometimes you can get started almost straight away but it's rarely quite as quick as the clipboard in the image suggests! Necessary checks and processes during recruitment may mean the process takes a little while. You'll probably need to provide some information about yourself and your suitability for the role. The organisation will most likely want to know why you are interested in this role and what you hope to get from volunteering. You will probably have some questions for them too. You might need to complete an application form and have a chat or a meeting with the volunteer manager. If your application is successful you may be asked to sign an agreement about your volunteering and you might be requested to do some training before you get started volunteering. References As part of your application you may be asked for references. These might not need to be formal (work/education) references, personal references might be fine; do check with the organisation if you aren't sure about what references you can give. Identity You might also be asked to provide ID documents. If an organisation requests a DBS check for you they will need to check your ID. Criminal records and DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks For some volunteer roles, when you have applied to be a volunteer and you seem a suitable fit, you will be asked to disclose convictions and have a DBS check. Often this won’t be necessary; it depends on the role. This is part of the organisation’s safeguarding responsibilities and responsible recruitment. In deciding whether such checks are needed, and at what level, the organisation will consider the responsibilities of the role, who volunteers will be interacting with and the activities involved, as well as associated risks. For some roles, it is a legal requirement for checks to be carried out and some people are barred from working/volunteering in roles with vulnerable adults and children. Organisations can consult formal guidance to know whether a check is legally required for a volunteer role and about the appropriateness of different levels of checks. Basic checks Not required by law, but for some roles organisations may have decided these are necessary. They are requested by the person themselves. There is a fee for a basic check. If the organisation asks for you to request this check and share the results with them, it is good practice for them to reimburse you the costs incurred. Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred checks These are only appropriate in particular circumstances and must be requested by the organisation. Checks will provide information that is accurate at the time of issue and if there are any matters of potential concern which show up in the check, the organisation will discuss this with you. In roles which require these more advanced checks, the organisation’s policy will likely require a check to be repeated after a period of time. DBS Update Service With Standard and Enhanced checks there is a useful way to check for any new issues, saving time and effort and avoiding having to repeat the check process from scratch, through the volunteer applying to the Update service. This can only be organised during the process of applying for your DBS check or within a short period of receiving your certificate. DBS Update Service - GOV.UK Guidance about the Update Service Whilst there is a charge for this service, it is free for volunteers. If you have a conviction Each individual should be looked at on their own merit. Some past convictions will not be considered relevant for a role. In some roles your lived experience may be a strength. You may find this information useful: Volunteering - Unlock . Volunteering in the right role can be a great way to make contacts and friends, feel you're contributing, boost your self-esteem and confidence, get into a routine, enhance your skills, get experience and references. For many, it's a useful and rewarding step on the way towards paid work.