This blog is part of a series that celebrates the stories of volunteers during #VolunteersWeek2020. The amazing people across Leeds that volunteered in response COVID-19 have made supporting vulnerable people across Leeds possible. Read their stories and find out more about the people who have been uplifting their communities.

Billy, who is 12 years old, has been volunteering at the Hamara Centre in Beeston, which has been servicing the Middleton Park area in Leeds throughout the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring that vulnerable people in the local area still have access to food and support.

Like many people, Billy has had to adapt to significant changes in his normal routine. Billy said: “I would usually be going to school. Currently I have been doing school work at home and going for daily walks, also chatting to my friends on the phone.”

Before the COVID-19 crisis, Billy had never volunteered before. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations(NCVO) in 2018 found that the main reason people choose to volunteer was because they wanted to improve things and help people. Billy mentions why he made the decision to volunteer: “I felt like I was doing the same few things day in day out, spending time with my family, going on walks and speaking to my friends.” 

“I chose to [volunteer] because I enjoy helping out my community and Dal (the Community and Youth project lead at the Hamara Centre), rather than sitting at home. I am glad that I am helping out my community at such difficult times.”

Volunteers like Billy have been invaluable to making sure organisations, like the Hamara Centre, has been able to deliver the Community Care Volunteering programme, established by Voluntary Action Leeds and Leeds City Council.

Billy was too young to sign up as a Community Care Volunteering programme, which had over 8,000 Leeds resident register to volunteer. However, with the support of his mother, Billy has been helping the Hamara Centre with many vital activities behind the scenes, such as putting together food parcels for deliveries. Billy explained: “When I arrive, we usually tidy up the food and empty the bags of food, and then we put it in the designated areas.

“Dal keeps a list of food parcels that need to be collected and we fill up big crates of food based on what the person has asked for, but sometimes they don’t require certain foods. Then the parcel delivery men or women come to collect the food parcels and deliver them out to those who are self isolating.” 

Billy is one of many volunteers across the UK who feedback as enjoying their volunteering experience. A whopping 96% of volunteers in the NCVO’s 2019 report said they were very or fairly satisfied with their volunteering experience. Billy said: “Volunteering has been fun. I have really enjoyed it. I have got to know the staff and they are really friendly and helpful. I feel like I would like to volunteer even when I am older.”

To anyone thinking about volunteering in their local community, Billy says: “Go for it. It makes you feel good about yourself. I would like to volunteer every day.” 

The Community Care Volunteering Programme is not currently accepting applications from new volunteers but there are still lots of other volunteering opportunities available in Leeds. To find out more, please visit https://doinggood.wordifysites.com/i-want-to-volunteer/

 

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