Both Rita and Colin are retired, Rita having been a solicitor and Colin having worked in an IT company. Rita happened to be attending a course at the LSJS when she heard about the JVN’s work and decided to offer to volunteer. Colin was volunteering at Watford General Hospital as a Meeter and Greeter when he was contacted by our very own Volunteer Development Manager, Lia Bogod.
Rita had been active within her synagogue’s children’s services, her kids’ school’s PTA, and the local Brownies. She was also part of a choir that visited those in care homes, although she wryly admits that it was more for “our enjoyment than theirs.” Like many others, Colin caught the volunteering bug during the Olympics, where he was a GamesMaker.
The pair’s main activity for JVN is communicating with newly registered volunteers and checking up on others who they have helped in the past. This is a hugely important part of JVN’s work, allowing us to go beyond the confines of the impersonal internet and contact our volunteers directly. Both contend that there has to be initiative from the volunteer, and in the majority of cases it’s better for the volunteer to contact the charity themselves, rather than JVN doing it for them. However, Colin thinks that some charities are for first time volunteers, as they’re more able to offer training and support. He also argues that the volunteer having a clear “role definition” is essential, especially as the majority of volunteers are part-time.
Both Colin and Rita have enjoyed volunteering for JVN, saying the experience has been an interesting one and has given them a better understanding and appreciation of the Jewish charitable sector. We love having them in the office and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their efforts.
If you’ve been inspired by Rita and Colin’s story, why not give JVN a call and see if we can help you find your very own volunteering opportunity. Call us on 0208-203-6427 or visit our website for more information and register as a volunteer: www.jvn.org.uk.
