Volunteering benefits spotlighted at Trent & Dove
Volunteering can bring so many benefits to not only the wider community but also to the individual.
Many have seen their confidence grow, while others say it has given them a sense of purpose.
The varied volunteer work involved can prevent isolation, keep people physically and mentally active, and build up a wealth of experiences to use on their CVs and within the workplace.
That is why it is essential to celebrate these heroes and the importance of their work in the community.
As part of our mission to Transform Homes, Lives and Communities, we run many initiatives which help strengthen our communities. This includes our Coffee Connect van, which tours the local community offering free refreshments, alongside our Warm Spaces cafes, Community Garden, Furniture Project and much more.
As part of our drive to spotlight the variety of volunteering opportunities with us, we are delighted to welcome James Flintham, our new Volunteering and Wellbeing Officer, to Trent & Dove - just in time for Volunteers’ Week this week.
James brings a wealth of knowledge of the volunteering sector, and he is excited to continue improving and shaping our community support while encouraging others to get involved.
What experience do you bring to Trent & Dove?
In my previous role, as a Community Officer at Support Staffordshire, I supported organisations that required volunteers to be able to run because most small organisations in East Staffordshire are entirely volunteer-led.
I worked with voluntary sector organisations. One project we considered was health and well-being to support the healthcare system. I ended up working with Trent & Dove’s Coffee Connect project, which aims to reduce isolation by visiting communities.
I remember speaking to Trent & Dove volunteer Angie Cresswell, who told me how Coffee Connect helped her start talking to people. That built her confidence so much that she is now a key volunteer running the Coffee Connect van. She is an ambassador for the benefits of Coffee Connect. She is a person with lived experience who can talk to people who are going through the things she went through.
What does your role entail?
To make sure that Trent & Dove customers can volunteer in their community, and support and attend the Warm Spaces cafes, allotments and groups such as the cycling at Shobnall. It will help reduce loneliness and isolation and give opportunities for people to be active in a community.
I recently visited Trent & Dove’s Kingfisher Garden in Horninglow and spoke to volunteer gardener Steve Shelley. I saw how this tiny strip of land along a canal behind some houses is so productive and important to him. It is a wonderful opportunity for more people to join.
Steve Shelley, volunteer gardener
What are the benefits of volunteering?
As Steve has retired, he has found a purpose - a regular activity. He fits this around his other responsibilities. But his main motivation was producing food for families to eat. He gets up early to battle the weeds and grow crops. He showed me how he was building a polytunnel for his tomatoes. This person knows what he is doing.
Some people misunderstand what volunteering is. They think it is just working in a charity shop or something where you have to give. But you receive a lot. Most volunteers tell you they gain a lot of satisfaction from helping others, and giving back is a big thing, but it also boosts their confidence, motivation, and structure.
The beauty of volunteering is that it doesn’t have to be all day, every day. It can be occasionally or just when you’re feeling well enough to do it. You know it is there to return to if you need to take some time off.
There are roles where you are by yourself or around others in an environment where there is no pressure. They like the socialisation aspect of it, the community aspect of it, and the desire to feel part of something, particularly if it is the community where they live.
People can also find the support to grow into these roles, learn, and move on. They may only volunteer for a few months to build their confidence and skills. They want a new challenge, and move on to something else, either a different volunteering role or maybe into paid work or take those skills in a different direction.
Sometimes we choose jobs that we don’t want to do. But when we volunteer, I hope everyone chooses that volunteering role.
James Flintham, Volunteering and Wellbeing Officer
Is volunteering for all abilities?
The roles come with the support that people require, and that would include disabilities, people who are autistic, neurodivergent, or struggling with low confidence and mental health. They would have the opportunity to receive the sort of support that they need to give this a go, and then thrive in this role.
Why did you choose Trent & Dove?
As a person who lived in social housing for a long time, I know that a landlord has a real chance to shape people’s lives. There is so much potential.
What I noticed about Trent & Dove is that they prioritise and value community engagement and community activities, so it gave me confidence that community work isn’t something they have to do, it is because they want to do it.
They know that services and opportunities within local communities are vital, and Trent & Dove can do that because they have properties that they can turn into things like the Short Street café - right in the heart of people’s lives.
What big projects do you have lined up?
We have allotments and outdoor garden projects, but because of Covid and volunteers moving on, and nature and growth, they have gone a bit wild, and they need a bit of support. We are looking for volunteers to join those projects.
How vital is Volunteers’ Week?
It is an excellent opportunity to showcase the benefits of volunteering, to say to people, "You can give this a go, you can try." We can have a conversation to see how we can support you. You do not have to commit to it forever. It could be a short time, or it could be a long time.
How can people get involved?
Please call our Customer Services Team on 01283 528528 or our volunteering page on Volunteering and Community