A wealth of volunteering opportunities are being offered in Hackney – from conservation projects to supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Volunteer Centre Hackney (VCH) has compiled a list of brilliant local activities, offering a low-commitment way of helping and meeting new people.
A spokesperson for VCH described it as: “The chance to make a difference, meet new people, and learn new skills.” They added: “These connections not only enrich your own life but also strengthen the social fabric of Hackney.”
Among the opportunities are surveying the river Lea and its wildlife (through bird watching, insect walks and bat nights) as well as tree-planting, meadow restoration and river clean-ups.
Our Second Home, a charity supporting refugees and migrants, is looking for volunteers to run summer residential programmes and women’s charity Sister Circle is seeking Maternity Mates to support those in challenging circumstances through pregnancy and birth.
Research by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations highlights how volunteering boosts wellbeing and builds a sense of purpose. 77% of those surveyed said volunteering improved their state of mind, 78% said it brings them into contact with people from other backgrounds and 90% said volunteering had helped them make new friends.
Love live music? Gig Buddies is offering volunteering in Hackney. The charity empowers adults with learning disabilities to have active social lives; matching them with volunteers (based on mutual hobbies and interests) so they can enjoy time together and create friendships. Typical activities involve bowling and pub trips, gigs and theatre.
Describing her recent experience, mother-of-three Farhiya described volunteering as: “like entering a whole new world.” She added: “I encountered individuals from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique needs.
“Before I started volunteering, I found myself isolated and lacking confidence. I wasn’t working for 10 years. I was a bit down and depressed. I had withdrawn into a shell, feeling disconnected from the world around me. I’m Muslim, from Somali culture, mental health is a taboo.”
Farhiya began volunteering at a local doctor’s surgery for a few hours each week, while the children were at school. Eventually she secured a paid position, focusing on childhood immunisation.
She added: “The experience of volunteering helped me become more open and adaptable. It taught me to embrace whatever came my way.”
To browse local volunteering opportunities, visit vchackney.org
