With opportunities to learn skills as varied as bell ringing and blacksmithing currently available – there’s a lot to be gained through volunteering in Spalding and South Holland.
Hundreds of people are already enjoying the experiences on offer – both because of what they can gain personally and what it allows them to give to others.
Charity Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) works to help community groups achieve their goals and find and retain volunteers.
Chain Bridge Forge Museum, in High Street, Spalding, is one of the many organisations LCVS works with, which is reliant on volunteers. But it’s not just the forge that gains when people volunteer, as director Geoff Taylor explains.
He said: “We have been open five years and have had around 100 volunteers work with us in roles from directors through to blacksmiths, working on our 3D printers and doing history research – a whole range of areas.
“Everyone who has been with us has gained out of that experience and gone on to the next stage in their lives – employment or training or whatever it has been.
“We enjoy working with volunteers. They all bring skills to the forge and enhance what we do. It means we can do things we couldn’t otherwise and volunteers gain skills and confidence. For many it’s that tick in a box that says ‘I have spent time in a working environment and got that experience’.”
The forge has recently spoken of its desire to attract people both interested in learning blacksmithing skills and those who already have them, due to current blacksmith Chris Hammond, who is 70, finding the task increasingly too strenuous. Geoff wants to hear from people who would like to volunteer in those roles and those looking for paid work.
Dudley Long (26) has been helping at the forge since last April when, after being made redundant from a youth worker role, he was advised volunteering may be a good interim measure and was directed to LCVS.
He said: “I’m now usually here two days a week working on the 3D printer. I’ve helped produce a number of commissions including for another museum that wanted models of some of its artefacts to allow people with visual impairments and children to be able to touch and experience them.
“In the future I’d love to find a way to make a living out of this, perhaps working with schools.
“It has given me an outlet for an interest I already had. Coming to the forge has given me a purpose to pursue my interest and working on different projects here has helped me stretch and develop my skills and push what I am comfortable with, helping me to gain new confidence. Without that it would have been easy to lose motivation to keep doing it.”
The Lighthouse Project, which works to support vulnerable young people and has a fundraising shop and café in Sheep Market and furniture recycling store in Westlode Street, is another organisation LCVS helps recruit volunteers to.
Esther Howard (19) was supported through a struggle with depression and anxiety by The Lighthouse Project and volunteering in the shop has helped build her confidence.
Initially, she could only manage a couple of days a week and found it overwhelming but has built up to full time and now has hopes of finding paid work.
Esther said: “I volunteer because I want to give back to the charity that has supported me on my journey, helping out in the shop that I’ve directly seen its work impact people’s lives.
“I started just under two years ago in our shop. I wouldn’t talk to customers, and would spend most of my time sorting out our store cupboard out of the way.
“Working here, my confidence has grown and I’ve learnt the people skills that I needed. Two years later I have just started running the shop and look forward to helping others gain confidence and life skills and supporting them on their journey.”
LCVS recently linked Richard Mister (55), of Fulney Lane North, Spalding, with The Lighthouse Project as a driver collecting and delivering furniture and goods.
He began volunteering after a stint of unemployment when he was made redundant from a coal yard in 2012.
After getting back in touch with LCVS at the end of last year, he is also now volunteering with Age UK Spalding District as an escort on its minibuses.
He said: “I needed to get my motivation back and stay connected to the outside world.
“I wish I could spend the rest of my life doing voluntary work. It gives you so much satisfaction and you’re so appreciated. It’s something to cherish.
“Anybody I speak to I recommend getting into volunteering – it’s such a pick me up and you’re doing something really worthwhile.
“It’s one of the best moves I’ve ever made.”
How you can get involved: There are hundreds of volunteering opportunities available in South Holland from the bite-size to longer term commitments.
St Mary and St Nicolas Church in Spalding is desperately looking for people – churchgoers or otherwise – to help keep its bells ringing.
A timebanking scheme – SHARE (South Holland Actions Rewarding Everyone) – which is encouraging people to offer their skills for an hour or two at a time in exchange for credits to benefit from the skills of others in equal time quantities, is also getting off the ground in South Holland. And volunteers are needed to help promote the scheme and help it to run efficiently.
To find out more contact LCVS at its Spalding office on 01205 510888 ext 3 or email [email protected].
