Hello Volunteer,

Welcome to the latest edition of Volunteer News. 

We have our regular sections, Find Your Role - the latest featured volunteer roles, Good Question! - answering a question about volunteering and Volunteering Radar - volunteering information, news and updates that you might have missed. 

This month we also cover Angel Tree,  our annual Christmas gifting project, nominations closing soon for Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards and an opportunity to join the team at VSNS. 

Keep giving us your feedback on the newsletter and let us know if there's anything else you'd like to see included. We'd love to hear from you.

Happy volunteering!

Mark and Jenny

Visit our website and search through many more roles, give us a call on 01932 571122, or visit us in person and start your volunteering journey today.

Every year, Voluntary Support's Angel Tree gifting project invites local businesses and their employees to abandon their office secret Santa and instead purchase gifts for local charities and those most in need in their local communities. We have a whole host of charities that request items from a simple chocolate selection box to a warm blanket or a gift card. This year we're also encouraging anyone living in the area to also consider donating a gift to support local charities.

You can choose which charity you'd like to support and how much you'd like to spend and we can share details of what gifs those organisations would like. It's a wonderful way to support local organisations and spread some real Christmas cheer.

If you're interested in supporting, please contact Jo who can share more details and explain how you can help.   

Your questions about volunteering, answered.

What if I start volunteering and discover it isn't right for me?

So, you've found a volunteering opportunity that sounds great, signed up and started helping out. But a few weeks in, you're having second thoughts. Maybe the role isn't quite what you expected, you're not enjoying it as much as you'd hoped, or something has changed and it just doesn't fit around your life in the way you thought it would.

So, what do you do?

First of all, don't worry! For volunteering to work it should be a positive experience for everyone involved.

I’d suggest starting with a chat with whoever supports you. It’s always worth exploring if there’s any flexibility. Perhaps a change of hours, different responsibilities or a little extra support could help make a difference.

But what if you've simply decided it's not for you? That's fine too. You're giving your time freely, and you're allowed to change your mind. If you do decide to leave, try to give the organisation as much notice as you can. They'll appreciate the opportunity to make other arrangements, particularly if people are relying on your support.

And remember, volunteering comes in many shapes and sizes. Just because this opportunity isn’t quite right doesn’t mean that volunteering isn’t for you. There are so many different opportunities out there, from helping people and animals to supporting local events or sharing your skills.

If your first role hasn't worked out, get in touch with us. We'd be happy to help you find something that's a better fit.

Got a question about volunteering you'd like us to answer? Send it to us and it could feature in a future edition of Good Question!

Nominations for this year’s Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards close November 6th!

Our annual awards honouring the invaluable contribution made by volunteers in Surrey Heath are closing soon. Don't miss this great opportunity for you to celebrate and recognise the incredible contributions volunteers make to your organisation and the wider community.

On Thursday 3 December, we will be hosting an awards ceremony at Chobham Golf Club.

If you’re part of a Surrey Heath organisation, please nominate one or more of your volunteers, volunteer teams or businesses for these awards. This year’s awards categories are as follows:

• Unsung Hero Award – Recognising those behind the scenes such as a helpful trustee or someone working hard to support other volunteers and staff.
• Inspirational Volunteer Award – For volunteers who have made a huge difference to your cause and whose passion and dedication inspire others to make a difference.
• New Volunteer Award – For those volunteers who are new to volunteering and have been in their post for at least a year.
• Long-Service Award (for 10+ years of service) – For our long-standing volunteers who have been volunteering for more than 10 years.
• Volunteer Team Award – To recognise a volunteer team’s collaborative efforts and contributions to residents of Surrey Heath.
• Fundraiser of the Year Award – Honouring both individuals and teams for their passionate and/or innovative approaches to fundraising, regardless of the amount raised.
• Engagement in the Community – Recognising businesses that actively support local charities and non-profits, making a positive impact through their corporate social responsibility efforts.

You can nominate a volunteer or organisation for a volunteer award using this online form. The deadline for nominations will be Friday 6th November.

Once nominations are closed, a judging panel comprising representatives from the local community will decide on the winners for each category.

If you need help completing the form or would prefer it in Word format please contact us on 01276 402789. And do forward the details of the volunteer awards to anyone in the Borough that you feel may be interested in nominating a volunteer – we want these awards to be as inclusive and wide-ranging as possible.

Trustees Week: Trustees week is 9th-13th November and a time to come together and celebrate the achievements of trustees across the UK. Find out more here and if you're a trustee interested in developing as a trustee, why not join our free training on November 24th. 

Volunteering is on the rise again: The latest government figures show that, after several years of declining participation, the number of adults aged 16 and over who volunteered at least once this year is up 33% from the previous year. You can read the report here.    

Britain's smallest mouse needs your help: Volunteers across Britain are being asked to search for harvest mouse nests between now and March 2027. No experience is needed and your discoveries could help scientists understand how the summer's extreme heat affected these tiny creatures. Find out how to get involved.