Post | May 2023 | 2 min read

Wayne shares his love for cars and volunteering

Written by

Do you love cars and meeting new people? Would you like to make a difference in your community and use yours skills for a good cause? If so, you might want to consider volunteering at Haynes Motor Museum, like Wayne.

Wayne is one of many volunteers who help the museum run their events, educate visitors and preserve their impressive collection of vehicles.

Read Wayne’s story to find out how he benefits from volunteering at Haynes.

“I have always liked being helpful and getting involved in my community.

“My role involves marshalling and guiding the public at events, primarily at the monthly Breakfast Club which brings together like-minded motorcar enthusiasts to meet and share their passion for cars.

“The monthly event helps Haynes Motor Museum achieve their goal of educating the public, as well as restoring and preserving the collection for future generations to enjoy.

“Through volunteering, I get to meet lots of people who, like me, are enthusiastic about motor vehicles. I get to talk to them about their cars and their experiences with their vehicles, which improves both my knowledge and my skills in conversation.

“I would recommend that others volunteer as it is a wonderful opportunity to help charitable organisations that would otherwise have to pay for services. In Haynes’ case, this means that money can be kept in the organisation and go towards improving their collection. In addition, it is a great buzz working with the team and meeting like-minded friends who, if I didn’t volunteer, I would never get to meet."

Dr Luca Hoare, Curator at Haynes Motor Museum, comments:

“Without Wayne and our team of volunteers we wouldn’t be able to run events such as Breakfast Club or open the Museum to visitors. Wayne brings a wealth of automotive knowledge and is always on hand to greet our visitors with a smile no matter the weather.”

If Wayne's story has inspired you to get involved in volunteering, click on the link below.

I want to volunteer

Megan's Story

Guest blogger, Megan Cave, shares her volunteering story

Celebrating Somerset's Vital Volunteers

Spark Somerset have produced a special video to say a big 'thank you' to volunteers across Somerset. Spark Somerset have been working to support the volunteering response to the pandemic over past few months, and have been inspired by the huge number of people who have stepped up to support their communities over the past few months. More than 1,300 Somerset residents have registered on Corona Helpers , our partner website that matches people with voluntary activity in their area, with many more volunteering informally to help friends, family and neighbours. With help from members of the local community, and volunteers like you, Spark Somerset made this special video which gives a snapshot of some of the amazing work that has taken place. Want to get involved? Visit our Discover page.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time, you want to get the most out of it, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit: What causes do you care about? You will get the most out of volunteering if you're doing something towards a cause you care about and know that you're having an impact. Think about what interests or excites you. This could be something you enjoyed doing before, or something completely new. Think about what time or skills you can give. With so many opportunities to choose from, it's a great idea to narrow down the choices by deciding what you're willing to give. Get researching! Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your goals, your skills, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience. Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organisation and understand the time and travel commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed. Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organisation about changing your focus or look for a different organisation that’s a better fit. Enjoy yourself . The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organisation. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide what to do next.

Post | May 2023 | 2 min read

Wayne shares his love for cars and volunteering

Written by

Laura Bazley

Wayne is one of many volunteers who help the museum run their events, educate visitors and preserve their impressive collection of vehicles.

Read Wayne’s story to find out how he benefits from volunteering at Haynes.

“I have always liked being helpful and getting involved in my community.

“The monthly event helps Haynes Motor Museum achieve their goal of educating the public, as well as restoring and preserving the collection for future generations to enjoy.

Dr Luca Hoare, Curator at Haynes Motor Museum, comments:

If Wayne's story has inspired you to get involved in volunteering, click on the link below.

I want to volunteer