Did you know June is a month to celebrate volunteers?

Volunteers week is to thank the millions of people throughout the UK who volunteer to help others. The week takes place every year between 1st - 7th of June.

This year, not surprisingly, the focus is on the people from all walks of life who have volunteered, playing a key role during the pandemic in the support of vital services and local charities.

People have supported neighbours, the elderly and those who were unable to leave their homes due to shielding.

Lots of different focuses for each day of the week, if you want to get involved.

Also, people have supported those who have lived alone throughout this time, when they are feeling isolated and lonely.

Next week, 14th – 18th June, is Loneliness Awareness week, which is encouraging people to accept that loneliness is an experience, not a condition. It isn’t something that defines us. It should be something we can help each other to manage. The Marmalade Trust wants to remove the shame surrounding loneliness, and have several resources on their site.

If you’d like to read more: https://www.marmaladetrust.org

Volunteering at Fraser Allen

I have always believed that is it important to think of others and be helpful, kind and considerate, and to be able to volunteer and support my own community is important to me.

During the pandemic I’ve organised volunteers to help our residents who may have been shielding, or unable to get out and about easily. The group of people I got together, went shopping for our residents, organised lifts for medical appointments, or emergency appointments, posted letters, and picked up prescriptions.

Read more about how we support others in these blogs:

https://www.fraserallenem.co.uk/random-acts-of-kindness-day and
https://www.fraserallenem.co.uk/pay-it-forward-day

Also, because many of our residents are older and possibly alone, without being able to see family and friends, they experienced loneliness.

Alongside helping them out with errands, we made time to talk to them, and if we hadn’t been involved in helping in this way, we would give them a call to make sure they were safe and well. Or when delivering their shopping, or collecting letters to post, we would take time for a quick chat, rather than rush off.

When people are lonely, I believe just knowing that someone has taken the time to talk to you, shows care, and hopefully brightened their day.

I took time to speak to volunteers from Cheltenham Welcome Refugees, to get a better understanding of their background, and how I could help refugees who arrive in the area.

Volunteering can also be about going that step a little further than expected. When we are undertaking gardening maintenance work, we often offer to repot plants for our older residents, which is about giving more of our time.

In 2020, I was included in Small Biz 100. I pledged to offer legal and home advice with a solicitor, but has been unable to fulfil this pledge, due to lockdown.  I am still committed to do go ahead with this, however, it won’t be before June 21 when we all hope the restrictions will be lifted.