Wessex Community Action is the council for voluntary services in Wiltshire and provides practical support for community organisations on funding, governance, planning, policy development, recruiting and leadership. This monthly volunteering column looks at all aspects of volunteering and how people can give up their time for the benefit of their communities…

AS the curtain comes down on 2024 and we think about 2025, what better time to try something truly transformative and making volunteering a New Year’s resolution?

Volunteering offers the perfect opportunity to step out of our routines and embrace a new challenge that benefits others – and also ourselves. It’s a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and learn new skills – or hone the ones you already have.

It also doesn’t mean surrendering countless hours, there are flexible opportunities to fit busy lives. Many organisations offer roles that can take up just an hour or two each week, or even a month.

Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance is looking to add to its 98 volunteers with a recruitment campaign set to be launched in early 2025. Volunteers Manager Cas Louden said the charity has a range of roles to suit all ages, skills and availability – from doing gardening and odd jobs at its base in Semington to collecting and helping at events, working in its shops or going out doing talks about its work.

“We value them and make them feel part of our Wiltshire Air Ambulance family because without them, there’s no way we could do what we do,” she said.

All applicants are asked about the time they have to spare, their skills and their likes so they can contribute in a way that suits them. They receive regular training and are invited to quarterly meetings at the charity’s airbase, although many of them in pop in much more often.

“They love coming in because we look after them, we give them tea, coffee and biscuits and if we’ve got any training going on, we give them a bit of lunch as well,” said Cas. “Our crew will always say hello because they appreciate what they do – it’s one base, one team and everyone makes them feel welcome.”

She said volunteers are not just important for the work they do. “We’re always asking for feedback, anything they think we could improve on because they’re our eyes and ears when they’re out and about doing events and talks,” said Cas.

“We work hard to retain our volunteers and they love being out and about and being part of the charity and they know we’re at the end of the phone for them.”

The charity’s New Year volunteer drive will focus on Salisbury and Bath but volunteers from anywhere across the county will be warmly welcomed.

Cas said: “New Year is a great time to volunteer with us and we’ll be delighted to discuss opportunities with anyone.”

Wessex Community Action works with charities and groups to help them support their volunteers through training and recruitment ideas.

An ideal place to look for New Year volunteering opportunities is Wiltshire Together, a digital community platform hosted by Wessex Community Action. It’s free to use and allows users to browse and pledge interest for the opportunities listed. Users can also set up a member profile that allows them to log their volunteer hours, which can help with CVs and employability prospects.

The site now has a Volunteering in Wiltshire page at wiltshiretogether.org.uk wiltshire-volunteering.

• To find out more about trustee training and support or more about the volunteering support WCA can offer, contact Abby Lynch at info@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk.