It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The misfortunes of 2020 have brought out goodwill and a sense of solidarity within communities. What role has volunteering and charitable-work played in this union?
It is obvious that that volunteering has helped ease the impact of the Covid-19 crisis within communities worldwide; many good-natured volunteers have dedicated their time to charities that are important to them, either helping their local community or aiding organisations that strive to achieve a global goal. Whilst charities have always been valued, they have become more appreciated due to their role in combatting the negative effects of the pandemic, which have affected those with low-income and the homeless the hardest.
Unfortunately, volunteering has been made difficult. Social restrictions have prevented people from gathering in person, and charity shops have had to close under both national lockdowns. As a consequence, alternative hitherto-obscure forms of volunteering have arisen.
People of all ages have chosen to join local action groups, which support their local community. The Dons Local Action Group, which is comprised of over 1500 volunteers, was recently formed to deliver food parcels, household goods, and laptops, ensuring that nobody is alone in their struggle and guaranteeing that children continue to receive an education through their ‘Keep Kids Connected’ scheme. Such organisations are valuable not only for their charitable efforts but also because they raise community spirit.
Online forms of volunteering have become popular with people confined to their homes. Approximately 9 million people have been furloughed under the government’s job retention scheme, some of whom will no doubt take up volunteering to fill their time. Missing Maps is one such project which allows volunteers to map uncharted areas where natural disasters may occur, aiding disaster response teams. Moreover, over 250, 000 volunteers have signed up to participate in the previously uncommon field of vaccine studies. These brave Samaritans help wage the global war against coronavirus, testing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Charity work has immense mental health benefits for both the disadvantaged and philanthropists. The NHS reports that those who volunteer attain lower marks in the General Health Questionnaire (a screening device for recognising psychiatric disorders) indicating better health. Perhaps acts of kindness motivated by a wish to ‘give back’ to our communities also help us develop personally?
Ultimately, the rise of volunteering is not a surprise given our compassionate nature. In a country that is increasingly divided by politics, volunteering can unify the public.
If you wish to volunteer, see the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-volunteer-local
