insideKENT Magazine Issue 41 - August 2015 | Page 166

CHARITY

Give a Helping Hand:

VOLUNTEERING in Kent
Volunteering has many benefits that can help both those in need, and you. Even
those of us with the busiest of lives might find it beneficial to take a little time (just
one hour a week, or even a month, can make all the difference to everyone
involved), and for those of us with more time to spare, volunteering can become
a huge part of our lives. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
Volunteering allows those who take part the chance to learn new
skills, make friends and expand their social lives, help the community
in which they live, and gain confidence to move ahead in their
career, or in life. As for those who are receiving the help, volunteers
are immeasurably valuable, and can change a feeling of hopelessness
into one of happiness.

Ellenor // Tonbridge, Dartford & Gravesend // www.ellenor.org

There are dozens of opportunities to join in with the volunteer
movement in Kent. It doesn’t matter what your particular skills are,
what you do for a living, how physically fit you are, or what sector
you like the sound of volunteering in – there will be something out
there for you to do, and someone out there who will appreciate you
doing it.

Demelza House // Sittingbourne // www.demelza.org.uk

Demelza House is a hospice for children with life-limiting illnesses; it's a
place where the children and their families can take time to enjoy themselves
and relax, away from the stresses and strains of hospital visits and
medication.
Ellenor (formerly EllenorLions Hospice) is a place where those with terminal
illnesses can go for some peace, some social interaction, and some respite
when things get tough. Ellenor enables these people to make the most of
the time they have left.

Volunteering at Demelza House comes in many forms.
You could help in the gardens (there are 6.5 acres to
tidy) or join one of the Demelza shops across Kent and
East Sussex as a sales assistant. You could go out to
events and collect money, or sell Demelza’s unique
lottery draw tickets. You could even help in the
office, carrying out administration duties such as
typing and filing.

Ellenor puts on a number of different events throughout the year including
coffee mornings, quiz nights, dinner dances, fairs at both summer and
Christmas, and the wonderful Secret Garden event. This allows volunteers
to open up their gardens to the public, and receive donations as they do
it. For something slightly different, why not join in with some of Ellenor’s
fantastic challenges? Volunteers are always welcome to try the Grand
Union Challenge (a 25km, 50km, or 100km walk along the towpath), or
the KM Charity Walk (5 or 10 miles walking through Mote Park).

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