On International Volunteers Day, Leatherhead Division is shining the light on the many volunteering opportunities it offers for local people and the benefits which volunteering with Girlguiding can bring.
Ashley Lloyd has been a leader at 1st Bookham Guides for the last five years. She’d never been involved with Girlguiding previously, but wanted to offer her time as a volunteer, having moved to the area from London. She takes up her story:-
“I’d really enjoyed doing some volunteering at school and at uni, but hadn’t done anything for a while. Having moved to the area, I wanted to get involved again and Leatherhead Division Girlguiding said they’d love to have me. I haven’t look back with my volunteering and absolutely love it!
Over the last few years, it’s been so rewarding to watch the girls in our unit grow up. As volunteers, we help the Guides experience so many wonderful activities – going away to camp, cooking for the local hostel in Leatherhead, doing night walks in the local area and singing campfire songs at the local nursing home, amongst many other things. I’ve learnt so much myself through my volunteering with Girlguiding – including teamwork, which is such an important life skill.
For anyone who is thinking that they’d like to volunteer, but is unsure about the commitment, I’d reassure them that you don’t have to volunteer every week and whatever time you can offer is really appreciated. You might only be able to volunteer once a term or once a year. Everything helps. Maybe you have a particular skill which you’re able to offer on an ad hoc basis. The father of my fellow leader at 1st Bookham Guides is a carpenter and every year or so he comes to a weekly meeting and helps the girls make bird boxes!
I love donating my time to Girlguiding as a volunteer and would recommend it to anyone else too”.
To arrange a chat about how you could volunteer with Leatherhead Division Girlguiding, email div.comm@girlguidingleatherhead.org.uk or visit www.girlguiding.org.uk and follow the registration link.