According to the dictionary a volunteer is:  A person who freely offers to take part.

From Belfast to Bournemouth hundreds of people across our 37 locations are doing just that: freely offering to befriend tenants, paint walls, bake cakes, fundraise, pray, donate and garden to see tenants loved, staff teams supported and homes kept beautiful.

Each volunteer offers their time, skills and resources and each is unique, however they share a common belief that volunteering is worthwhile.

    

Every Hope into Action home also aims to have volunteers provided by a local church, lovingly called ‘the friendship & support group’ who willingly and freely give up their valuable time to show up and prove to our tenants that they deem them worthy and special. This, for many tenants, especially those for whom trust has been damaged, shows something more precious than any ‘paid’ support could. As Martin shares “Jim was my befriender at first but now we’re just mates. One of the very few I have actually! He comes religiously every week and we do all sorts. We go to car boots, go for walks and coffee, he helps me pick up my medication as I struggle to do that on my own. He’s a good man.”

The benefit to tenants

Having a volunteer like this who regularly turn up for tenants helps increase their social capital. This can be seen in our recent tenant outcomes which showed that 86% have maintained or improved their social relationships this year. Whether it’s increased confidence, reducing social anxiety, improving communication skills or simply having someone to call after a tough day, the support offered by volunteers is immeasurable. Tenants now have a healthy framework they can lean on. A trusted friend who helps them heal.

We housed over 500 tenants last year. Of those who presented with mental health struggles at move in, 90% maintained or improved their mental health this year and the volunteers play a huge part. Jay shares “the volunteers had a massive impact, they went above and beyond and gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone. I felt accepted for the first time and my self-esteem grew.” Even though Jay moved on several years ago, his befrienders still play an important part in his life and loved attending his wedding this year.

The impact on the volunteers

But the impact isn’t just felt by the ‘recipient’. A survey of over 100 volunteers showed that 82% of them have been committed for 6 months or more, 50% of which have been volunteering for over 2 years, some for more than a decade! So what makes them continue?  

One volunteer shared that “It’s made me feel useful” and another said “It’s been a joy to walk alongside someone as they heal.” So it’s not just an altruistic activity; volunteering benefits the volunteer!

Volunteers have been enlightened by the opportunity to connect and learn from others, often different to themselves: “I’m so much more aware of systemic failures after listening to someone’s story first hand,” it’s the chance to broaden your experience and understanding. One volunteer had a new sense of gratitude after connecting with one particularly vulnerable person, they shared how their gratitude, compassion and empathy had grown and how they’d realised they’d taken so many blessings for granted in their own life.

Appreciation

So whether it’s a tenant receiving her first ever handmade birthday cake, a volunteer who never realised the experience would bring them “a new friend for life” or Hope into Action who simply could (and would) not operate without you, THANK YOU for all you give.

And to those thinking about venturing into this opportunity, I implore you to step out of the boat and give it a try. You may grow, benefit and be stretched in ways you never anticipated. Luke 6:38 speaks of how those who give, will receive back in “good measure…running over” if feedback from our volunteers is anything to go by, you may perhaps even get more out of it than you put in.

Kate Doran-Smith is head of delivery and training at Hope into Action