A day late, but something I’ve been saying a lot of lately, better late than never!

Volunteering for me has always been such a big part of my life, I’ve always done it, to me it’s natural, doing something for the good of someone or something else.

It stemmed from rainbows, brownies and guides,  when I was encouraged by family and by the leaders to help other people. I’ve always been taught to think of others before myself, to be selfless at times even though a little bit of selfishness is ok and needed within life sometimes. But thinking of others is important, both for them and for yourself, it makes them feel good but also makes you feel good too.

I used to help in church when I was younger, I’d help with tea and coffee, I’d help at fundraisers, I’d help on tombolas and we had a lot of fun. I met lovely people and I made a lot of friends while doing it. It was a win win. When I was in guides, I volunteered with rainbows and brownies, but in the end it was time for me to move on, with other opportunities coming my way.

As I got older, I joined Duke of Edinburgh and through that one of my bestfriends and I volunteered with Roy Castle Lung Cancer foundation. We did that for a year and then for my next volunteering section for D of E, I volunteered with Bronze groups. Eventually, when I passed my Gold, D of E had become such a part of my life, I met amazing friends that I wouldn’t have otherwise had, and 7 years later they’re still in my life, that I wanted to pass on those experiences to other young people. So for the last 4 years I’ve been volunteering Monday and Tuesday evenings and weekends to train 13-18 year olds for D of E. Through this it let me stay involved with my high school, they offered me other opportunities, to do talks about volunteering, or about D of E and it felt good sharing something I love in the hope it would encourage others.

After volunteering being such a big part of my life, when I came to Cyprus, I had so much extra free time on my hands that I hadn’t had before. So here I am, I volunteer on Tuesdays with cubs, which suits me well considering where I work, and the age groups I predominantly spend my time with while in work. It’s different, volunteering with 8-11 year olds, even though I work with that group specifically in my job, my volunteering is predominantly with 13-18 year olds. Being with a younger age group brings about so many more benefits, because they’re still in that stage of life where everything is fine, they don’t have much stress, so your main aim is to let them have fun and learn about themselves and teach them about the world. Volunteering gives you a chance to care about someone other than yourself or your life, it can be an escape and the benefits are rewarding.

Volunteering doesn’t have to be giving up your time religiously for a group of people or for a specific thing, kindness can also be an act of volunteering, doing something for someone else.

My next volunteering aim, whether it will happen or not is Commonwealth Games 2018 in Australia, who knows whether it will happen, but I’ll try. I’d love to be given the opportunity to be a part of such an energetic and motivating environment!

My other volunteering aim which is a lot closer to home, is to get involved with St Johns Hospice, it’s a charity very close to me and my family’s heart and after missing the annual light up a life event, it made me realise that I want to do more for them. So for now I’ll have to get my thinking cap on  and decide what I can do in the hope when I come back home I can

What can you do? What can you give?

Yesterday may have been the day for International Volunteering Day, but what’s your tomorrow?

Do you have an aim? Do you have something close to your heart that you can just do one thing for?

Do it. Because the feeling you get from it is the best reward possible.

Volunteering opened up so many doors for me and possibilities, so what will it do for you?

xoxo

Kathryn