One of the big themes in Rye at the moment is the search for more volunteers. Pretty well every charity or voluntary group in our town says it urgently needs more people to keep going.
The town relies on volunteers: cutting the grass on The Salts. Looking after visitors at Rye Heritage Centre. Driving the community bus. Serving customers at Rye Foodbank. Supporting Rye’s Scouts and Guides. The town councillors. Rye Chamber. Keeping the town’s sports clubs going. Raising money for Rye Hospital. Trying to find a solution to the Christmas lights…
It’s a very, very long list – which should also include the way people in Rye help friends and neighbours with care and support.
Rye News wants to help.
In this week’s paper, we’ve the story of the Sue Ryder charity shop on the High Street in Rye. They urgently need people to work in the shop, especially at the weekend. Can you help them out? You can read more about what the charity does and, more importantly, how you could join them here.
So here’s an open invitation to local charities and voluntary groups. Get in touch with Rye News and let us publicize your search for new volunteers to our 6000+ readers each week. Just email info@ryenews.org.uk to start with.
But, in a town where almost everyone is doing something voluntary, shouldn’t Rye do more to say thank you? So here’s an idea. How about putting together a night to celebrate the people who do so much for us. An annual awards ceremony for the Ryers who make a difference to all our lives. We could name one of the awards after Jo Kirkham, the ultimate Rye volunteer. Who’s up for it? Get in touch info@ryenews.org.uk
Whilst we’re on about volunteers, Rye News always needs help too.
We’re looking for new people to report on life in Rye. You could be covering one of Rye’s many events, interviewing a fascinating local, chasing a breaking news story or following up leads from our readers – there’s no shortage of things or people to write about.
You could also help with putting the paper together: proof-reading and double-checking articles, selling advertising, creating social media, or publishing the paper on a Thursday afternoon.
The time commitment is up to you. Some people put in many hours a week, others send in a story every now and again. Like all the other voluntary organisations in Rye, we’re looking at building a bigger base of volunteers and supporters.
Get in touch by emailing info@ryenews.org.uk
Image Credits: KT Bruce , Rye News .
Being a volunteer in Rye isn’t all about giving, you get an awful lot back from it as well. I volunteer at the Heritage Centre, for the Bonfire Society and for the Arts Festival. I’ve made so many new friends and all three have given me experiences that I wouldn’t have had were I not a volunteer. Recently these have included the privilege of being in the Rye After Dark show and the camaraderie of representing Rye in the processions at other Sussex bonfires.
I would urge anyone with time on their hands to reach out to one of the organisations that need you, you will gain as much as you give.
Sally Walker makes a good point. Being a volunteer can be hugely rewarding for the giver.
Volunteers tell me it is an opportunity to interact, socialise, possibly make new friends and in our case, receive information on a wide variety of health and wellbeing challenges from our speakers at our monthly informative social events.
At FAiR, our volunteers are our ‘sprinkling of gold dust’ who allow us to deliver our services successfully, month after month plus 3 of our local business – Hayden’s, Cornish Bakery and Jempson who provide us with cakes and savouries ‘voluntarily’ each month.
A yearly ‘Big Thank you’ to our volunteers gets our vote.
An annual event to celebrate the Town’s volunteers and their essential contribution to the social, welfare and support network in the absence of state provision is a brilliant idea – well done Rye News and thanks for the suggestion. Rye Heritage Centre would be very keen to join other organisations in town to make this happen.
With you all the way Simon. Such an award is our chance not just to say thank you, but to set a standard, inspire the next generation to show them that service and community matters. This initiative should be widely celebrated and backed by real recognition so that, year after year, Rye honours its doers.
What a fantastic idea, I’d be very glad to support, recognise and celebrate our army of Rye Volunteers. This is a remarkable facet of our town that Rye News is absolutely correct to highlight let’s make it happen.
Everything Sally and Simon has said is spot on! To be honest being a volunteer is something I hadn’t really considered apart from my involvement with the Community Centre.
When the Town Council decided to to ‘mothball’ the Town Model due to cost, I felt extremely angry and disappointed that this decision had been made.
Fortunately, the town rallied round, a charity was formed and 5 years later we’re still open and run by volunteers. I was asked to become volunteer and I do my stint every week, it’s a commitment but as a team we cover shifts so it’s not that you can’t have a day off!
There’s great camaraderie with the team and I urge anyone who’s thinking of volunteering to come and have a morning or afternoon in the centre, it is rewarding and fun.
I volunteer as a room guide at Lamb House, and sing in the St. Mary’s choir — both “jobs” are great fun and I would miss them if I stopped! Like many local volunteers, I’m still working as well; volunteering isn’t just for the retired. There are opportunities all over Rye, ranging from an hour’s commitment a week to filling your entire day with volunteering as some stalwarts seem to do. There are volunteer roles for all ages and abilities, indoors and outdoors. I cheer the prospect of a celebration, but how about listing volunteer opportunities on this excellent website? Giving organizations a place to outline what they need? Volunteering can be life-changing, and there are surely people out there who just need to be matched to the right opportunity.
This is a great idea, something to celebrate the magnificent volunteers of Rye gets my vote. When I think about volunteers I think of a positive quote I saw on social media (I know something positive on social media shocking) “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.
In my experience, most people volunteer because they can and want to give something back to their community, charity or service. They do not do it for public recognition. There are many unsung hero’s who do not expect nor want the attention. I hope those not wanting public recognition will not be forced to give up or put off volunteering.