It’s Volunteers’ Week! Our annual celebration of the fantastic contribution volunteers make each day throughout our communities.

(Caption: a golden banner reading “Volunteer Spotlights” highlighted by a blue-white spotlight.)

This year, we’re focusing on the volunteers themselves, the reasons why they volunteer and the impact it’s had on their lives. We’re starting off with our own volunteer, Sarah.

Since she was 12 years old, Sarah has always been involved in volunteering. As well as her time here in the CVS Falkirk office, she volunteers in a charity shop and with youth clubs, and will be starting with a local community group as part of their summer programme and food group.

She’s also working on a degree in Community Education, something her volunteering helps her build experience in. “It keeps me busy, too, which I like – I like to help people.”

(Caption: Sarah in her blue CVS Falkirk uniform hoodie.)

Sarah kicked off her volunteering journey by visiting the children’s ward at her local hospital and reading to the young children there on Saturdays. “I’m not really sure what made me want to get involved. I think I might have seen something on TV!” she laughs. She has a vague impression of a campaign asking young teens to help out at the hospital.

“It’s just been part of my life ever since.”

Earlier in the year, as part of her coursework, Sarah came to the CVS Falkirk office for 10 weeks in order to learn more about the third sector and the huge variety of work it does. She participated in events, including the first Forth Valley Third Sector Conference, shadowed members of the team, and even organised and held a volunteering information session of her own.

(Calum, Sarah, Dale and Andrew at the Falkirk Funders Fayre 2018.)

When her 10 weeks came to an end, Sarah decided to return to CVS Falkirk as a volunteer. “I really enjoyed my time here during my placement. I wanted to come back, to be part of the team, and everything I’m learning, the experience I’ve gained, it all fits in with my degree.”

How would Sarah herself describe the obvious impact volunteering has had on her life, given that she keeps coming back?

“I think volunteering at such a young age has led me on this path to where I am now, with the skills and experience I have, to knowing what I want to do professionally,” Sarah says. “My life could have been very different without it!”

This Volunteers’ Week, why not find out how you can get involved with CVS Falkirk, or volunteering in Falkirk, by contacting our Volunteering Team by phone: 01324 692000, or email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk