Volunteering...

Extremely important to the success of events or anything in our society that looks for those extra hands. Volunteers, for me, are members of society who have a passion to make things successful. For free. They don't want a financial thank you. One reason is they want to be part of something. All it takes is to understand and appreciate them. 

It's 6:30am the team arrives...volunteers that is. The sun isn't even up yet and the team are boiling the kettle as they all greet each other with hugs, high fives and laughter. And so the morning begins. This is something I have been used to now for seven years. With leaflets stacked in boxes they await to be given out. But in front of me is smiles. Smiles that brighten up the grey clouds currently hovering in the sky. I have been fortunate to get to know the volunteers. They are not volunteers to me. They are key ingredients to the success of what is trying to be achieved. Its like baking a cake. Each ingredient is needed to make the cake work. And thats exactly what the team of volunteers they are a key ingredient. They are also friends. These people who are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. I have been fortunate to grow up with the volunteering groups who always have a say in everything I do - from my university days to my fashion style. Although its not for everyone the volunteers I have met through my very short career so far in events they always make the day positive, enjoyable and successful. 

The one personal touch I wanted to explore was - friendship. In seven years of being part of this amazing world of volunteers and events I have seen friendships blossom. Literally. I have seen people meet at the finish line go for a coffee 4 years later they are mourning the loss of a relative together. Sounds dramatic but it's true. The reason why some people get through some occasions is because of each other and they met through volunteering. They drive together  to events. They work together. Then even every 2 weeks some of the volunteers go for dinner together or else do a Come Dine With Me style event. For me because of volunteering people are able to socialise with others. People they probably would have never met if it was not for turning up and being part of something at 6:30am in the morning. 

There is one key difficult thing about volunteering. A lot of the volunteers are retired. They are of a certain age. How to get more people to volunteer? The way, for me, is that volunteering at events needs to be marketed differently. Tough Mudder for example they have it spot on. They state volunteers are the reason for the success given the volunteers the feeling they are the reason the event occurs. Same as London 2012 when the volunteers were called Games Makers. It means they are the reason for everything. This is vital to ensure volunteers buy in to making the event a success. 

Volunteers for me will also be priceless in the success of events as well as anything and everything they are involved in.