A local charity is seeking volunteers to support a new and innovative ‘Busy Buddy’ scheme. Hambleton Community Action, based in Northallerton, has long recognised that there are a number of people within the local community who would be willing to volunteer their services to help local charities, if only they had a helping hand to get them started. This may be for a variety of reasons including issues of confidence or perhaps having been out of work for a long time.
Lizzie Clapham, the project coordinator explained “Since the summer our Busy Buddies have helped out at numerous car boot sales, coffee mornings and charity events. We hope to attract more volunteers so that our Busy Buddies can help more charities. We have a wide variety of activities lined up, including helping put up Christmas decorations and supporting events for older people”.
Hazel Kirby, Chief Officer of Hambleton Community Action has seen how matching volunteer ‘mentors’ to Busy Buddies has positive outcomes for both groups . “Thanks to funding from Comic Relief, through the Two Ridings Community Foundation, we have already been able to recruit 17 Busy Buddies who are supported by some incredible volunteers.”
Anyone who can spare a couple of hours a week is encouraged to contact Lizzie on volunteering@hambletoncommunityaction.org or ring 01609 780 458.