Ever felt like you need to donate to charity but just don’t have the money? Well, by volunteering for a local charity you could give something back to the community, without having to spend a penny. Many charity shops are always looking for volunteers and your help would be much appreciated. I talked to Ellie Sands to find out more about her charity work.
Where and when do you volunteer?
Cancer Research UK, in Whitton High Street. I help out there on Saturday mornings every week.
What are you asked to do?
I do lots of things; I sort through lots of donations and I then put them out on the shop floor. I also organize the shop floor and keep it tidy.
What made you volunteer in the first place?
I needed to do some volunteer work in order to get my Duke of Edinburgh award and I wanted to support Cancer Research UK; I thought this was a great, easy way to do it and instead of donating my money, I can donate my time.
Do enjoy your volunteer work or do you see it as a chore?
I enjoy it very much because the people are very friendly! I have made new friends and it is a pleasure to see the regulars. I also like to organize things so this is the perfect job for me!
Do you think more people should get involved in volunteer work?
Yes, Definitely! You may not expect it to be fun, but it is. I think more people should get involved. Lots of people our age only get involved for things like D of E or the mayor’s award, but it is a great way to meet new people, have fun and gain experience of work. In my opinion young people should do volunteering if it’s for an award or not.
