Volunteering

Radcliffe Athletic Club member Peter Warr started running around seven years ago to challenge himself.

He is now inspiring a new generation to enjoy athletics as a coach and head of the club’s junior section.

The youngsters, aged eight to 16, follow England Athletics’ FUNdamentals programme which covers aspects of running, throwing and jumping. The emphasis is very much on enjoyment, camaraderie and developing skills and resilience.

Peter said: “I’ve volunteered for around five years with Radcliffe Athletic Club coaching the juniors.

“I suppose it was inevitable really: my kids were members of the junior section and I enjoyed joining in when they needed help. When an opportunity rose to volunteer, I dived on in!

“The club was great, supporting me to get an England Athletics coaching qualification and more training equipment. With these in place, the junior section gone from strength to strength.

“It’s great seeing the juniors have a go at races and joining in club activities. But really, the greatest thing is seeing them laughing and running together, supporting each other and striving to be the best they can be. There’s a lesson in their smiles for me and for all of us I reckon!”

Volunteering has led to a change of career for former teacher Louise Shield who is the youth and community engagement manager with The Sunnywood Project in Bury.

Sunnywood is a non-profit outdoor education and events provider which encourages people to keep mentally and physically active.

It promotes a love of the great outdoors by organising a variety of events, conservation and educational programmes for all ages.

Louise said: “I started volunteering about nine years ago. A friend invited me  to a weekly 2k and 5k community run she organised at Burrs Country Park with the support of Great Run Local. I think I managed a few weeks of running before she roped me in as one of her marshals!

“That was the start of my volunteering journey and I started helping almost weekly. I loved being part of a big community event. It gave me a real sense of purpose and pride to help people get active and enjoy the outdoors.

“When COVID hit I keep our little run going virtually, with people sending me their results every Sunday on Facebook. But about 18 months later Great Run Local went bankrupt.

“People asked me if I would set the event up again, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone so I asked Sunnywood if they could support it. They had only been going for a short time, but I knew they promoted physical activity and a love of the outdoors. The team agreed and Burrs Community Run launched in September 2021.

“Since then, I have volunteered with Sunnywood at many events. I am usually the one with the big smile and cowbell, greeting runners and hikers at aid stations during endurance events.

“I also put my educational background to good use by volunteering during most school holidays with the project’s family activities, toddler events, teen hikes and much more! It really does make you feel good knowing you’re helping others while supporting a great organisation.

“When Sunnywood approached me earlier this year to say that they had a full-time job available in their youth team, I jumped at the chance!

“Not only does my role include the youth provision that Sunnywood offers, but it includes managing their Fit For Purpose project. Teaming up with local groups across Bury, Fit For Purpose is developing opportunities for people to come together, get active and contribute to making a positive difference in the local community. It’s the perfect role for me with my love and passion for volunteering!

“I honestly cannot stress enough the benefits of volunteering! My friends often ask ‘how do you do it? Getting up EVERY Sunday morning to put on a run at Burrs!’. My response is always ‘I love it!’ and I truly do!”

Members of NHS Greater Manchester’s engagement team have rolled up their sleeves to help transform a garden.

They took part in two clean-up sessions in early 2024, tackling overgrown foliage and clearing paths at Aspire Waterside in Salford.

Aspire is a day support centre for people with autism spectrum disorder, complex disabilities and other health needs.

Rick Whitehead, engagement, equalities and insight lead, NHS Greater Manchester, said: “We’ve a few new members in the team so it’s been a great way to get to know each other better while giving something back to such a worthy cause.

“Volunteering for just a few hours gives everyone a real sense of achievement and satisfaction. It’s great to work with your colleagues and see the labours of your efforts in transforming an unusable in outdoor space into an area which service users can use and enjoy.

“We’ll be returning in June 2024 to help get their sensory garden ‘summer ready’ for an open day they’re having in early July.”

Adiba Sultan’s first taste of volunteering was at the age of 15 with a credit union. Since then she’s taken on numerous and varied volunteer roles!

Adiba, who leads NHS GM’s Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, is currently a volunteer trustee with the relationship charity Talk Listen Change (TLC). She also volunteers with the Manchester International Festival and previously volunteered with Manchester Cares, which brought older and younger people together to reduce loneliness and isolation.

Adiba said: “My values are quite simply about human rights and supporting to build equity in one way or another and my volunteering is part of that.

“I genuinely love volunteering; it’s fun, you get to do different things and you get to be part of different communities. Volunteering helps you to see different perspectives and understand other people.

“I was homeless twice growing up and I know how difficult it is when your life is different to those around you. I had a difficult childhood and one of the things that helped me was my strong relationship with my mum, which is why Talk Listen Change is important to me. They are a relationships charity who focus on the importance of strong, healthy, happy and safe relationships.

“I also love the arts and I volunteer with the Manchester International Festival (MIF), which is about making sure the arts are accessible for people Manchester. I get to immerse myself in the arts, meet new people and I have made some amazing friends.

“At MIF I have been a steward where I give people directions, and help with tickets and accessibility, I’ve also supported in building sets. At one of the shows the artist had set up an underground rave set in the future and I had to stand in a Perspex box and paint people’s faces with UV paint which was surreal!”