Volunteers Week: My Personal Thanks
Whenever I tell anyone that over 16,000 people volunteer their time, skills and talents to Barnardo’s they repeat the number back as though they’ve misheard. When I say that the hours contributed to furthering our ambitions totalled 1.7m hours last year, eyes widen in sheer amazement. And I understand why.
It’s staggering to think about that number of people across our services and stores, business support and fundraising teams - all committed through their various roles to changing childhoods and changing lives.
Without our volunteers, we simply couldn’t have the impact we do. We couldn’t reach and change the lives of so many children and families. We couldn’t throw open the doors of over 500 stores and welcome people in to donate to us, shop with us, connect with us. We couldn’t add new skills to our teams and build capabilities and capacity here at the rate we want to, and we couldn’t raise as much income and support for the vital work we are here to do.
What strikes me when I meet volunteers in Barnardo's is their passion for our purpose. Whether it’s in a shop or a service, at a cheering station at the marathon, or in a meeting, I am inspired to discover that we’re all chasing the same ambitions for children and young people to be safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful in the future.
Our purpose is the thing that unites us. It’s what sees some people volunteering for Barnardo’s for years. I recently met two volunteers who between them had 70 years of service here – and it’s what makes Barnardo’s the charity of choice for so many to gift their time and their talents to.
As I meet our volunteers I’m humbled and thankful but I’ve never expressed my gratitude without a volunteer telling me what they value about their volunteering experience. Whether it’s the knowledge that we’re all changing childhoods, or we’re impacting positively in our communities, or learning new skills and developing confidence, friendships and connections, it’s a virtuous circle. But I never underestimate the hard work.
I am so grateful to everyone who gives their time, energy and talent. We belong to something bigger here at Barnardo’s. I often quote an old proverb that reads ‘If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together’, and we are able to go so much further because of the outstanding commitment we have from so many volunteers.
This note is simply to share with all of you how much I value all that you bring to Barnardo’s and to say a very sincere, big THANK YOU!
Lynn 💚
Bring a volunteer is one of the best experiences you can have. I’ve met interesting people, felt part of a team and connected to my purpose. For anyone wanting a sense of community volunteering is a brilliant place to find it.
Manager at Barnardo's
7moThe two Vols Lynn talks about are in my store 🥰 I’m so proud of them both for their 70+yrs between them, if anyone needs to know why we have such great Volunteer commitment in Barnardo’s just look at them and ask yourself why would anyone want to do that. The proof of a great company is in its achievement of keeping its staff, especially volunteers.
CEO Barnardo’s
7moThanks Ed, it really is a humbling thought! I’m also really struck by the great feedback about the volunteering experience in so many parts of the charity too. For anyone interested in what that might look like there’s more information here: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=Volunteers_Week&utm_medium=Organic&utm_content=thank_you
Head of UK Volunteering and Community Engagement at Barnardo's
7moA thoroughly enjoyable read Lynn thank you for sharing. Even though I see the numbers every day I find myself in awe of the scale of what volunteers give to support Barnardo’s. Even more so when you consider there are 16,000 individual stories behind these stats. Different reasons for signing up, different experiences and talents. It’s a humbling thought.