Art conservator Jeremy Casson recognises the need to give back through philanthropy and supporting small businesses in his local community. This article will explore the many options available for those keen to give back, from giving blood to volunteering for a homeless charity.
With the NHS needing donations from 5,000 people a day just to meet the needs of hospital patients, there is no better time to become a blood donor. Donating blood saves lives. For those who have a phobia or are unable to donate for some other reason, there are other ways to support blood-giving schemes, such as acting as a steward volunteer.
One very effective way of giving back to local people is sharing time and invaluable skills. Irrespective of their specialty, by sharing their experience and expertise, volunteers open up doors for local people, boosting their confidence and resilience while simultaneously raising community awareness.
Mentorship is a powerful way of helping others to overcome challenges, building on their skillsets and teaching them new things. Mentors can help mentees of all ages. For those seeking to steer a child or young adult on the right path, providing a young person with a real presence in their life can be an incredibly rewarding way of giving back.
Volunteering at a local animal shelter provides endless scope for animal encounters, serving the needs of local people and pets while providing an opportunity to meet new people and develop new skills.
During the harsh winter months, volunteering at a soup kitchen, food bank or homeless centre enables people to put their cooking and conversational skills to good use. In addition to increasing awareness of the homeless population, volunteering with shelters presents opportunities to form relationships with people in need. Volunteering schemes help both volunteers and service users by enabling them to connect directly, listen to each other’s stories and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of lending a hand in the local community. Volunteers can utilise their unique skillsets, be it cooking meals, cleaning or presenting IT workshops for job seekers.
Plastic pollution is a huge global problem today, with somewhere in the region of 1.6 million tons of waste entering the world’s oceans every hour, according to research from 4ocean. For those who live in a seaside town, beach cleans help to protect marine environments and the wildlife that rely on them. Getting together with family and friends and filling a few bags with litter instils in young people the importance of environmental responsibly while simultaneously helping to keep the world’s oceans clean.
Rather than throwing away unwanted items and adding to the significant environmental and health problems created by landfill, donating clothes, toys and food not only saves waste but also helps out local people in need. From food waste platforms to local charities, word of mouth or a quick internet search can reveal a whole host of different donation opportunities.
For those with more time to spare, organising a local charity event such as a bake sale or fun run helps bring local people together in support of a worthy cause, raising money while simultaneously getting people out in the community, making friends and having fun.
With hectic personal and professional lives, many people have little time left to think about helping out with community projects. Nevertheless, by setting aside an occasional hour, volunteers make a huge difference in their local community. For time-pushed volunteers, simply chatting to an elderly neighbour for a few minutes to ward off loneliness, litter picking and supporting locally owned businesses all play a part in improving the neighbourhood and making it a happier, healthier place to live.
