Volunteers are the lifeblood of charities. At Tom’s Trust we have some incredible volunteers who show up again and again to support us. Some help at our fundraising events, some consult on areas of the charity, and then we have our committed group of Young Ambassadors and Trustees. All of them give their time and energy freely to further the work of Tom’s Trust.
An estimated 14.2m people in the UK volunteered through a group, club or organisation in 2021/22, and almost one in five (16%) people report volunteering at least once a month – that’s about 8.3m people in the UK*. Volunteering is well documented to bring about feelings of wellbeing, community and belonging. It can also be a great way to learn new skills that will help to advance the person’s career.
We are saying a big Thank You to all of our volunteers this Volunteer’s Week (3-9 June). Offering a taster of what it is like to support Tom’s Trust, our lovely volunteer Anna has shared her story…
Anna’s volunteering story
Anna is pictured second from the right, alongside three of our other fantastic volunteers at our fundraising Shoot Day earlier this year.
“I’m Anna, I live in central Cambridge and am an experienced recruitment consultant and property manager. In my spare time I enjoy walking, tennis, seeing friends and in an attempt to see my two boys when they come home, I’ve just taken up golf!
“I have volunteered for Toms Trust for around 10 years, initially with some office hours each week and lately more intermittently dependent on need. I have been involved with many of their events and fundraising activities. I have enjoyed the Christmas camaraderie on the car parking in association with the Rotary Club at Pembroke college, been on hand at fundraising balls, race days, shoot days, stood outside John Lewis and Cambridge Town Hall raising awareness and encouraging donations. I’ve also spent time at Thriplow Daffodil Festival which is never a chore. None of these activities have required any skill, just a happy face and friendly information provider. The Tom’s Trust team are always a joy to be with.
“I feel strongly about supporting small local charities where the money donated goes as directly as possible to the cause funded. We are all increasingly aware of the gap in psychological support of all kinds, currently provided by the NHS. Where a child is involved with such critical care this support is even more valuable and not only for the child but also the focus on maintaining the family unit for everyone’s long term health.
“Volunteering for Tom’s Trust is a bit of fun doing something completely different, and all for a good cause! My highlight is just experiencing the goodwill of so many people, often the most unlikely, young and old. That and the art of just how many layers you can get under a Tom’s Trust T-Shirt on a cold day!”
Find out about volunteering
*Why is volunteering important? – Volunteers’ Week (volunteersweek.org)