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Blog Posts

Clare's story

| For volunteers
"The opportunities and ways to get involved with volunteering are so diverse and all your efforts and time ...
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Dead hedging on the Quantock Hills

| Corporate Volunteering
"By encouraging corporate volunteer groups to explore nature restoration, we are setting a powerful example ...
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Adam's story

| For volunteers
“My volunteer work has not only enriched my CV but has also been personally rewarding. It has provided me with ...
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Somerset Diverse Communities presentation

Diversity in volunteering

| Home Page
Create a more inclusive and welcoming volunteering environment that reflects the diversity of your community.
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Michelle's story

| Trustees
Anyone can become a Trustee, regardless of their age or background! Michelle’s trustee career began in her ...
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Photograph of Terrence volunteering in the garden with other volunteers

Terence's story

| Trustees
I just couldn’t give up on life when there are others to whom I could offer my many years of experience to ...
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Photograph of Sara

Sara's story

| Trustees
"My personal experiences have instilled a strong desire to ‘pay it forward’ and ensure that others have the ...
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World Mental Health Day

| Home Page
World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th every year, is an opportunity to raise awareness about ...
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Carole's story

| For volunteers
"My own mental health has greatly improved since I started my volunteering and I no longer need a counselor ...
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Joanna's story

| For volunteers
"Thanks to my volunteering, I am busy, fulfilled and feel part of a community that I really care about."
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Volunteer Voices panel

| Home Page
A big thank you to those who attended our July Volunteer Coordinators Forum, especially our wonderful ...
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The Turner & Townsend team visit West Hatch Animal Centre

| Corporate Volunteering
"On the volunteering day, we got to meet new people and work together as a team towards a great outcome."
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Photo of Lara next to the Move More Together logo

Moving more together

"My volunteering gives me a feeling of self-worth and appreciation for life."
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Nick's story

| For volunteers
They are more than just a mix of metal, plastic and glass!
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The power of listening: Maisy's volunteering story

| For volunteers
I find myself looking forward to my shifts because the feeling you get when you have helped make a stranger ...
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Alison at a carers group

Alison's volunteering story

| For volunteers
"It has given me a lovely group of friends and makes my ‘bad years’ worthwhile."
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Mary's story

| For volunteers
I enjoy volunteering with Alive because I can utilise my area of interest and expertise to help others ...
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Abby's volunteering story

| For volunteers
“I would recommend that others volunteer as you learn a lot about yourself as well as gaining valuable ...
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The Big Help Out at Thurlbear School

| Home Page
Earlier this month, as part of The Big Help Out campaign, thousands of organisations and community groups ...
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Volunteer at Haynes Motor Museum

Wayne shares his love for cars and volunteering

| For volunteers
“It is a great buzz working with the team and meeting like-minded friends."
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The EDF team on the Quantock Hills

Adder surveying on the Quantock Hills

| Corporate Volunteering
"It was wonderful to be out of the office for the day in the fresh air and surrounded by nature on the ...
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The Novanta Technologies Team visit The Geranium Trust

| Corporate Volunteering
Earlier this year, a team of volunteers from Novanta Technologies braved the cold to enjoy a day of tree ...
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The Lendology team at ARK

The Lendology team visit ARK at Egwood

| Corporate Volunteering
Lendology is a not for profit organisation working in partnership with local councils to provide affordable ...
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The Positive People Team

The Somerset Positive People team visit Carymoor Environmental Centre

| Corporate Volunteering
“We contacted Spark Somerset as we were looking for a volunteering opportunity that would help us get outside ...
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Chris Malin

Chris's Story

| For volunteers
"I think if you have received help that has been of a benefit to you and established a strong ‘wellness ...
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 Johanna Pereira

Johanna's Story

| For volunteers
“I recommend that others volunteer as not only is it a great opportunity to be part of something bigger and ...
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Image shows two volunteers dressed in Christmas jumpers hugging each other and smiling at the camera.

Gill's Story

| For volunteers
Read how volunteer, Gill, is making a difference to the lives of local children and parents this festive ...
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Esther's story

| For volunteers
“I get to meet and chat with some really lovely and interesting people, and I really enjoy seeing volunteers ...
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Photograph of Louise

Louise's story

| Trustees
"Trusteeship gives me a focus and a sense of achievement and has enabled me to meet loads of fantastic ...
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Photo of Karuna at an event

Karuna's Story

| Trustees
“Being part of the team here has allowed me to learn, form deep friendships, make a small difference towards ...
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Photograph of Grahame

Grahame's Story

| Trustees
Grahame is Chair of Trustees at Spark Somerset and has a career spanning health and social care, education, ...
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Photo of Alison planting a tree

Alison's Story

| For volunteers
Since retiring, Alison Templeton, who worked in a variety of roles within local authorities, has returned to ...
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Photo of Sue and her dog, Florence

Sue's Story

| Trustees
“If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, I would highly recommend it. You can pursue your interests and ...
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Photo of Sarah

Sarah's Story

| Trustees
"It’s empowering to know I that can use my skills for the benefit of the school, my son and other children ...
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Photo of Linda at an event

Linda's Story

| Trustees
Linda Pigott-Vijeh has a background in publicity and marketing and has been a Trustee for various charities ...
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Natalie and a rescue dog at St. Giles

Natalie's Story

| Trustees
Natalie, a solicitor from Taunton, has been a Trustee with St. Giles Animal Rescue since June 2020.
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Photo of woman looking away from camera and into distance

Gabi's Story

| For volunteers
Gabi was referred to the Open Mental Health Buddy scheme by her local job club. Due to long-term physical and ...
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Harmony Fire team

Harmony Fire visit ARK at Egwood

| Corporate Volunteering
"It was hugely beneficial for the team’s wellbeing. There's lot to be said for being outside in fresh air just ...
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Picture of a rescued hedgehog

Esmee's Story

| For volunteers
Esmee, a level 3 Animal Studies student at Weston College, started volunteering with Prickles Hedgehog Rescue ...
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Jane's Story

| For volunteers
Volunteers’ have played a key role in the pandemic response. During an exceptionally difficult year, people ...
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Photo of the beach

Sarah’s Team Beach Clean

| Corporate Volunteering
Now that her team can meet in person again, Sarah wanted to ensure that their first get together in 16 months ...
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Photo of Ellimae

Ellimae's Story

| For volunteers
Today is Power of Youth Day, an annual celebration of the contributions children and young people make through ...
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Photo of Mel

Mel's Story

| Trustees
At the heart of every charity and voluntary organisation is its board of trustees and together, they have one ...
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Picture of Simon

Simon's Story

| For volunteers
Simon, known as ‘Woody Simon’, has been volunteering with ARK at Egwood CIC for about 2 years. Having spent 40 ...
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Alex holding a puppy

Alex's Story

| For volunteers
Alex regularly volunteers in the natural environment, and for him the experience has been life-changing ...
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Photo of Megan

Megan's Story

| For volunteers
Guest blogger, Megan Cave, shares her volunteering story
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Photograph of the High Sheriff of Somerset

Message of thanks from the High Sheriff of Somerset

A letter from the High Sheriff of Somerset to volunteers supporting the local vaccination programme ...
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Celebrating Somerset's Vital Volunteers

| For volunteers
Spark Somerset have produced a special video to say a big 'thank you' to volunteers across Somerset.

Spark ...
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Getting the most out of volunteering

| For volunteers
You’re donating your valuable time, you want to get the most out of it, so it’s important that you enjoy and ...
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Volunteering from home

| For volunteers
Why volunteer from home?
The benefits of volunteering from home are immense, especially at this challenging ...
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Why People Volunteer

| For organisations
If you ask a random selection of people why they volunteer, they will give a huge variety of reasons why they, ...
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Virtual Volunteering - Getting Started

| For organisations
Volunteering has changed dramatically over recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. From serving ...
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Get creative with volunteering opportunities

| For organisations
Getting new volunteers on board is an exciting, yet challenging, task. To turn clicks into volunteers you will ...
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