Volunteers’ Week 2025 – Our volunteers explain how volunteering has changed their lives
Volunteers helping us with our mission to eradicate loneliness in Southampton are marking national Volunteers’ Week by raising awareness of the positive impact volunteering has on their lives (June 2-8, 2025).
Through stories showcasing the rewarding nature of the activity, we’re hoping others will be encouraged to volunteer.
Volunteer Stories
Our Manager, Annie explains: “As part of 2025 Volunteers’ Week, our volunteers have come forward and helped us compile a series of ‘Volunteer Stories’ to give people a flavour on what volunteering for us involves and how it benefits the volunteer just as much as our service users. We’ve discovered some touching stories about beautiful friendships that have blossomed through our befriending schemes.
Changing lives
“We’ve spoken to so many volunteers who have told us how volunteering has changed their lives. It’s a brilliant, positive way to help in your community and to assist others who are effectively your neighbours. Plus, it’s been scientifically proven that helping others is good for your health too and can also help boost mental wellbeing.”
Bob is one of our longest standing volunteers. He explains: “As a volunteer, I have had the privilege of meeting, and helping in some way, hundreds of wonderful people. As most of our service users are aged 65+, they often have amazing stories to tell.
Adds richness
“The opportunity to bring a little richness into someone’s life, especially if they live alone and are often housebound is very rewarding. Plus, they also add richness to your life too.
“The effort that Communicare volunteers do can simply be described as befriending – just being a good neighbour and meeting a need with a smile and gentle conversation over a ‘cuppa’. But these simple gestures offer so much more for both volunteer and service user.”
Positive impact
Another volunteer is Chris, who regularly takes service user Graham shopping. He says: “Assisting Graham with his weekly shopping has had such a positive impact on my life, I would recommend to anyone that they become a volunteer for Communicare.”
Flexible befriending
Annie adds: “Our volunteers get as much out of the experience as the service user or users they are assisting or befriending. Others say how rewarding it is to know they are helping through the admin or office work they do for us as well. There are so many different volunteer roles available and we’re very flexible, so can work around people’s family and work commitments.
“Some of our Communiteers befriend over the telephone and others by email, so there are roles you can do at home.”
Different volunteer roles
Ann is currently helping in our office but has had many different volunteer roles with us during the last 20 plus years.
She says: “When I started, I had a toddler, and that toddler is now 25! I drove people to appointments; did grocery drop offs and lots of other things that popped up ad hoc. As well as helping others, it helped me get out of the house and meet new people.
“These days I use my web editor experience to put together the weekly Southampton Mental Health Network Roundup email newsletter, which Communicare is the lead organisation on. It’s a great role as I transition into retirement.
Everyone has something to add
“My advice to anyone thinking of volunteering is to do something you are comfortable with and/or are skilled at. Everyone has something to add, whether it is befriending or behind-the-scenes admin support.”
How to find out more
If you ever have a spare hour, or so, each week, then we’d love to hear from you, as we always need more volunteers and befrienders. We can be flexible and work around your other commitments. Please get in touch via 023 8250 0050 or volunteer@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk for a friendly and informal chat.