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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 .

Images credit: NT At Wimpole, the magic of Christmas is brought to life not only through its historic setting but through the generosity of volunteers who give their time during the festive season. The volunteer managers at Wimpole give us an insight into the important role a volunteer plays for their organisation. Can you tell us a little about your organisation and what your Christmas or festive volunteering project involves? Wimpole is a National Trust property, with a Georgian mansion, spacious parkland, beautiful gardens and a working farm. We are a charity and so rely on volunteers to support us with the important work that we do. In the house at Wimpole we have room guides throughout the year who, as well as ensuring the safety of visitors and collection, help us interpret the history of the house. At Christmas this is also the case, but with some added sparkle. We look for volunteers to help us fulfil this role at a busy time, for a short period and no expectation of further commitment. We fast track inductions and training so that they can get stuck in as quickly as possible. This has often appealed to those who are not available through the rest of the year, or those unsure if they would enjoy the role and see this as an opportunity to have a taste of what it might be like. What makes your festive volunteering special or different from other times of the year? The atmosphere at Wimpole when volunteering at Christmas is very special. Everyone who visits is enjoying the festive season, spending time with family and friends, making memories and creating traditions. You can feel it when you are in the house and engaging with our visitors, and it creates a wonderful feel for the volunteers. The excitement and wonder when looking at the decorations in an already beautiful house is contagious. It is a short-term voluntary role, so there is no commitment, which means we have more people giving it a try without feeling tied into the role. It is a great introduction into volunteering in the house, and so many decide to stay on to volunteer at other times of year, based on this experience. How do your volunteers help make a difference during the festive season? Having extra volunteers over Christmas helps us fill gaps in the rota that we have previously struggled to fill, ensuring we can keep the house open for our visitors to enjoy. Our volunteers play a vital role in keeping visitors safe in case of an emergency and safeguarding our collection, but they also add a huge amount to the visitor experience, bringing the house to life, which is particularly valuable during the festive season. Do you have a favourite memory or moment from past festive volunteering projects? Not one particular memory, but my favourite thing is to see how much our volunteers get out of spending time with us. Watching them go from feeling apprehensive and unsure if they will be able to remember everything or ever find their way around such a big house, to taking it all in their stride and telling me how much they enjoy their days at Wimpole. Seeing them make new friendships and watching their confidence grow is so rewarding. Volunteer Perspective: Sarah Lunnon, Christmas Experience Volunteer What made you want to volunteer during the festive season with Wimpole? “Volunteering doesn't have any pressure attached and I wanted to be in a happy place, with kind, festive people and a bit of escapism from the real world and Wimpole certainly didn't disappoint” How does it feel to give your time and support at this time of year? “It makes you feel happy. So many people just saying a simple thank you restores your faith in human kindness.” What has been your most memorable or meaningful festive volunteering moment? “Volunteering in the Housekeeper’s room, evoking memories of people's childhood whilst listening to carols being played in the chapel next door.” What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering over Christmas? “It's an opportunity to be part of something special. To step back in time and easily imagine how life used to be. An escape from the modern rush of commercial Christmas, a chance to chat with interesting people from all over and to finish the day with a smile.” While our Christmas volunteering role is specifically designed to be short-term, volunteers are always very welcome to come along and try out a role with no obligation to stay long-term. Check out the roles here.