WHEN THE CHILDREN GO BACK TO SCHOOL, GET BUSY

The school holidays are over and the children are back at school, now it’s time to start thinking about you.

Maybe you just want to get out of the house, meet other people and have some fun; perhaps you’re looking to get back into work but aren’t sure if your skills would still be useful, or maybe you think that the workplace has changed too much.

But mums and dads don’t need to stay at home wondering any longer because there are hundreds of community groups and local branches of national charities that need willing volunteers. It doesn’t matter whether you want to help for something to do or to gain experience towards finding work – they just want you to volunteer.

You might expect to choose from helping in a charity shop or assisting children learning to read, but these days, volunteering opportunities are much more diverse.

Whatever your interests, there’s almost bound to be something to suit. You could help look after a local conservation area; support someone who is struggling to retain their independence through disability or age; pitch in at a local sports club, whether it’s looking after the grounds or arranging fixtures; assist one of many groups providing social activities, for elderly people, disabled adults, or youngsters with or without disabilities. If you’re a practical type of person, several local groups need a hand with gardening and similar tasks; or if you prefer to be out and about, what about dog walking or driving a minibus?

You might want to work with young people but feel you don’t have relevant work experience. If you’ve brought up your own children, chances are you’ve learned quite a lot, so what about assisting at a local youth club or mentoring other youngsters, who could be particularly talented, have a disability, or at risk of getting into trouble, and you could make a real difference.

To find out about volunteering opportunities in your area, contact Lucy or Rebecca at Volunteer Centre South Bedfordshire, tel. 01525 850559