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Whether you're wanting to be more active as the months get warmer or you have some more time over the Easter break, it’s the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and take part in something meaningful. Spending time outdoors has a powerful impact on both physical and mental wellbeing and combining that with volunteering makes it even more rewarding. The Easter holidays are also a great chance for families to get involved together. Outdoor volunteering doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are lots of child-friendly opportunities that allow young people to take part while having fun at the same time. For example, families could help with a local park clean-up, plant flowers in a community garden, take part in a litter-picking walk, support at an arts and crafts event or get involved in local fundraising. Activities like these help children learn about teamwork, caring for the environment and giving back to their community in a positive way. Outdoor opportunities during Easter can also help young people build confidence and new skills. Children and teenagers might learn basic gardening skills, get involved in simple environmental projects or help organise small outdoor activities for others. Whilst many of our opportunities are aimed at those 18+, there is nothing to stop you from reaching out to any of our organisations to ask if they have any family friendly activities. For those looking for more regular outdoor volunteering, why not check out some of these opportunities across Hertfordshire? Flopsy Wood Community Project CIC A community project offering arts, crafts and holistic events within a large wooded area in Broxbourne. Currently looking for: Volunteer Gardener/Handyperson Hertfordshire Health Walks Hertfordshire initiative to get people outdoors and active through group walking activities. Currently looking for: Health Walk Support Volunteers Herts Welcomes Refugees A charity offering support and services to the county's refugees and asylum seekers, alongside Refugee Council's Hertfordshire Resettlement Project. Currently looking for: Bike Delivery Driver Mencap Nationwide charity supporting people with learning difficulties and their families to thrive and live life through activities and groups. Currently looking for: Mate and Gym Buddy Royal Gunpowder Mills A heritage site and visitor attraction exploring the history of gunpowder and explosives, relying on volunteers to preserve and share its work. Currently looking for: Mini Railway Crew Nature Conservationist Building and Site Maintenance Therfield Regulation Trust A charity that supports and maintains Therfield Heath, a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Hertfordshire. Currently looking for: Habitat Management Wimpole National Trust Owned and managed by the National Trust, Wimpole is a busy working estate with a farm, 18th Century mansion house surrounded by gardens and parkland, shop, second hand books shop, cafes and a restaurant. Currently looking for: Litter Picker

Each year on World Theatre Day , people around the world celebrate the creativity, storytelling and community that theatre brings to our lives. The day highlights the importance of theatre in all its forms and encourages people to support and take part in the performing arts. Celebrating theatre is not just celebrating those that grace its stages, but also those that work behind the scenes. Performers cannot perform without the likes of sound and light technicians, musicians, composers, script-writers, producers but also volunteers that help to bring the stage to life. One of the most powerful ways to support theatre is through volunteering. Many theatres and arts organisations rely on volunteers to help bring performances to life; from welcoming audiences and helping with ticketing to supporting productions behind the scenes and youth groups and clubs that engage younger audiences to encourage creativity and exploration. These roles are essential to keeping shows running smoothly and making theatre accessible to the community. Volunteering in theatre can also be a rewarding experience. It’s a chance to meet new people, develop skills like teamwork and communication, and experience the excitement of live performances from the inside. Roles can vary widely, including front-of-house support, event assistance, marketing, production help, and community engagement. If you’re inspired by World Theatre Day, it’s the perfect time to get involved! Whether you’re passionate about the arts or just looking to try something new, volunteering with local theatre and performance organisations is a great way to support culture in your community while gaining valuable experience. Explore Hertfordshire's volunteer opportunities within theatre here:

When Jenny Bridger first arrived at Penniwells Riding for the Disabled (RDA), she wasn’t just looking for something to do. Having recently left hospital, Jenny was already involved in riding for the disabled and volunteering gave her a sense of purpose at a time when recovery felt uncertain. Penniwells became a place where she could channel her motivation into something positive, helping others while rebuilding her own confidence. So strong was that connection that Jenny chose to remain in Hertfordshire after leaving hospital, simply so she could stay involved. That was over ten years ago. “I wanted to prove that people in hospital can volunteer,” Jenny explains. While still an inpatient, she went out for the day, not for shopping trips or days out, but to volunteer at the yard. The Penniwells team were incredibly supportive, always ensuring someone was nearby if she needed help and allowing her role to grow gently and safely over time - at her own pace. She began with stable work and learning how the yard operated, gradually building confidence and understanding how each RDA group worked. As her confidence grew, so did her involvement - from fundraising challenges like marathons, abseiling and fancy-dress events, to creating sensory tracks and social media posting, and now with a hands-on involvement building wooden animals for the yard. “I’ll often take my screwdriver up to put things up for them,” she laughs. “Being able to get involved in as much or as little as possible - especially with my mental health - is really important.” That flexibility has allowed Jenny to remain involved through health appointments, setbacks and milestones alike. Sometimes she even travels with the group to competitions and shows. "Volunteers don't just give their time, they give people the confidence to believe in themselves. Volunteering fills a space in your heart that you didn't know was empty and we cannot do any of it without the support of our volunteers. The riders and volunteers both benefit from feeling very much part of the Penniwells Team and family, " says Sarah Healing, Penniwells Centre Manager. Beyond the stables, Jenny has supported Pony Club sessions on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, hoping to one day train as a leader for this group. She has encouraged riders to get involved in arts, crafts and creative writing and taken on the “extra bits” that busy staff don’t always have time for. Penniwells, part of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), supports around 140 riders a week and requires many volunteers to support them. For Jenny, what the organisation has given her goes far beyond numbers. “I’m very grateful for what they give me,” she says. “They gave me a sense of security when I was moving into a new area and allowed me to start an independent life. It’s been a constant for me.” Jenny set herself a personal goal: if she could volunteer consistently for a year with no relapses or hospital admissions, she would consider moving into a more formal role. She achieved that - and went on to become a volunteer with Mind Network, where she works part time leading part of their experience team, helping to develop training whilst encouraging others to use their experiences to improve mental health services. Still, when times are hard, Penniwells remains her anchor. “When I’ve had major struggles, the first place I’ve gone back to is Penniwells,” she explains. “Being around animals is a huge passion for me, so if I don’t want to be there, that’s a sign I need to check in with myself.” One moment stands out above all others. Jenny formed a deep bond with a particular mare - so deep that she now has her tattooed on her back. “She told me to go home,” Jenny recalls. “She nudged me towards the stable door - like she was saying, ‘You’re not well enough to be here today.’ That horse represents RDA and Penniwells to me. It’s a space I can always go back to, even if it’s just for ten minutes.” That sense of safety and acceptance is central to Jenny’s experience. “There’s no demand, no pressure. It’s about what you feel comfortable with.” She strongly believes in the RDA motto - ‘It’s what you can do that counts’ - and believes it can be applied it to everyone, not just riders. “They’ll always find something you’re confident with. You don’t need experience; you can come and learn.” For Jenny, volunteering has been mutually beneficial. “Everyone helps out, regardless of ability or disability. It’s about showing people: you can do this .” Volunteering has also given her friendship, routine and community - things she didn’t have after spending four years in hospital. Penniwells’ inclusive, LGBTQ+-friendly environment helped her feel safe and confident, and for many people, she says, volunteering can be a stepping stone to work, part of a health plan, or simply a place to belong. “People volunteer for lots of reasons,” Jenny says. “Not just because they want to do something good - don’t worry about being judged for that. If it works for you and helps you, that’s fantastic.” She’s clear that charities benefit just as much as volunteers do and take real pride in the progress people make. “You might think you’re helping someone else, but actually, it’s about what it can do for you too. That gratitude flows both ways.” “I may never be able to work full time,” she reflects, “but if I can do things that make me feel like I’m doing something good, that matters.” For Jenny, volunteering has always been more than a role. “Volunteering is where I could be myself.”