Welcome to Thornbury Volunteer Centre

We help people find the volunteering opportunities that suit them best. And we work with local organisations to find volunteers, and advise them on how to create employee volunteer schemes.

Be a volunteer

Volunteering is about giving your time to a good cause. You don't get paid, but you do get the chance to use your talents and develop new skills. You'll make a real difference to other people's lives, as well as your own.

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Find a volunteer

New people register to volunteer with us every month. They come with varied skills and experience. We provide a range of services to help you find the volunteers you need. We also advise on employee volunteer schemes.

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Who we are

We are the volunteer development agency serving Thornbury and the surrounding area. We aim to link volunteers with organisations that need voluntary help. We provide information, advice, training and support.

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Register with us and we'll help you find what you're looking for:

What people say about us

Thank you for inviting me to yesterday’s Summer Lunch, it was a lovely event. The Volunteer Centre is such a vital organisation to Thornbury - you should all be very proud.

Cllr Helen Ball, Thornbury Town Mayor

I recently retired and wanted to fill my time doing something enjoyable and useful. Thornbury Volunteer Centre were very helpful. I chose the Willow Trust. I serve tea and chat to visitors while cruising along the Gloucestershrie/Sharpness canal. Perfect!

Mary, volunteer

I must thank you and the Volunteer Centre team for all your hard work and dedication. Thornbury has a great asset with your charity helping ours and I thank you very much.

Jill Davis, Organisation

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect as a volunteer?

Your travel expenses to be paid, but this does depend on the size of the organisation, so it’s always worth checking.
A clear outline of what is expected of you. This is usually in the form of a written role description.
Training and guidance on your role.
Support or supervision from a paid member of staff; in smaller organisations and groups this may be from an experienced volunteer.
To be safe and covered by insurance to carry out the tasks you’ve been given.
To be made aware of the organisation’s policies and procedures, including who you should talk to if you are unhappy.
To feel valued by the organisation and able to contribute to its development.

If these expectations are not met, or you have problems that you cannot sort out with the organisation where you volunteer, contact us and we can advise and support you.

What are the benefits?

There are many reasons why people choose to volunteer. Their decision may be based on a desire to support a cause close to their heart or to undertake an activity that will benefit them personally. There’s something for everyone, regardless of a person’s motivation, preference or skill. And volunteering is open to all.

These are some of the reasons people choose to volunteer:

Personal

- - To build confidence and self esteem
  - To gain a sense of purpose
  - To gain fulfilment and satisfaction
  - To gain recognition
  - To explore career interests.

A poll found that 80% of people said that being kind or volunteering had a positive influence on their health. (Mental Health Foundation, 2012).

Achievement

To maintain, develop or share existing skills
To gain new skills, knowledge and experience
To improve employment prospects (through proven experience on your CV and volunteering references)
To gain an accreditation
To make a difference in someone’s life.

Social

To meet new people and make new friends
To improve life prospects
To have quality time away from your existing lifestyle.

Community

Support your community
Make a difference locally
Give back to the community
Help people who are isolated or disadvantaged

Improve the environment.

What are the barriers?

Not having enough spare time to volunteer
Being put off volunteering by bureaucracy
Being worried about risk or liability in volunteering
Not knowing how to get involved
Not having the right skills or experience.

How can the Volunteer Centre help to overcome these barriers?

Not enough spare time? There are lots of volunteering opportunities which do not require a big time commitment and can be fitted around busy schedules. e.g. one hour per week, once per month, one-off volunteering, volunteering from home.
Put off by bureaucracy? Procedures are there to protect us, but the Volunteer Centre can offer support to help you complete lengthy paperwork.
Worried about risk/liability? The Volunteer Centre will only signpost you towards organisations with public liability insurance and safeguarding procedures to ensure that your volunteering experience is happy and healthy.
Don't know how to get involved? The Volunteer Centre can provide you with the information you need to get involved.
Not having the right skills or experience? A major benefit of volunteering is gaining skills and experience. The Volunteer Centre can help you find volunteering suited to your ability and interest.

Can volunteering help me into employment?

Research has found that volunteering can help increase self-esteem and confidence amongst volunteers, skills which are invaluable in gaining employment. (Institute for Volunteering Research, 2009).
Volunteering can demonstrate a multitude of attractive skills to employers, such as evidence of commitment and working within a team.
Volunteering can provide you with references and relevant up-to-date experience.