Volunteering

Increasing the number of people undertaking volunteering is one of the key targets in the Local Area Agreement.  The target is to increase the number of people (aged up to 64) who volunteer for 2.0 or more hours per week by 6.5% per year.

There are a number of agencies co-ordination opportunities to volunteer in Bedfordshire.  There is a Council for Voluntary Services covering North/Mid Beds |and a Volunteer and Community Action South Bedfordshire |both supported by the 'Do It' website (a website where you can serach for volunteering opportunities in your community.

The Bedford Volunteer Bureau| who are accredited by Volunteering England |are currently working with 200 organisations and have over 400 volunteering opportunities including placements in leisure and community centres, Library Link Service, environmental and wild life trusts, countryside conservation as well as in Health and Social Care settings.

Volunteering England| has also identified nearly 100 roles that are undertaken by volunteers in Health and Social Care Settings.  These include counselling, drama assistants, hand holders (for surgery), home escorts for vulnerable patients, event helpers, carer support, exercise to music, interpreters, speech and language volunteers and support groups for specific health conditions.  All of these could be utilised to greater effect in Bedfordshire, and particularly for older people.