Thursday (June 1) marks the beginning of National Volunteers Week, with plenty on offer to residents in West Dunbartonshire keen to do more with their time.
West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (WDCVS) coordinate an army of volunteers each week - from befrienders to bike mechanics, and almost everything in between.
To mark Volunteers Week they are holding events in Clydebank and Dumbarton next Tuesday (June 6), highlighting the opportunities available in the hope of ensuring vital services can continue to operate.
And Kathleen McCulloch, WDCVS’ volunteer coordinator, hopes that it will provide the perfect opportunity for more people to discover the benefits of voluntary work.
She said: “Volunteers Week is the national celebration of volunteers, but it’s also the chance to say thank you.
“Our key activity is two fairs we are holding in Dumbarton and Clydebank on June 6.
“There will be about 20 or so organisations at each venue. People can come along, have a look at the opportunities on offer and find out more or sign up. There’s no pressure though and people can come and have a look.
“Personally, volunteering was great for me. I had always been working, took a break and didn’t know where to go.
“I needed to build up my confidence, skills and meet new people. I found the benefits of volunteering fantastic.
“It helped with employment because I had a reference for a future employer as well.
“Since then I’ve found out that, without volunteers, a lot of clubs and groups wouldn’t be able to run. So everyone involved deserves a massive thank you for making West Dunbartonshire a better place.”
A range of opportunities are on offer for volunteers of all ages, with Kathleen explaining that it can help people at different stages of their lives.
She added: “Volunteering is open to all ages, some people maybe have an image that it’s just retired people.
“But that’s certainly not the case, and we have volunteers of all ages. From someone looking for a way to spend time now they’ve retired right through to someone at college looking for a placement with some hands on experience.”
WDCVS’ Volunteers Week fair takes place between 10.30am and 1.30pm at Riverside Church, High Street, Dumbarton on Tuesday June 6.
