Summer 2023

WELLBEING
Volunteering
for Wellbeing
Chief Scout, Bear
Grylls, launched THE
BIG HELP OUT on 27
January 2023, as one
of the centrepieces
of the celebrations for the
Coronation of His Majesty King
Charles III on Saturday 6 May.
“Volunteering has always been
a huge part of what makes this
country great,” says Bear. “But
it’s not just in times of crisis
that we step up. Volunteering –
whether formal or informal – is
what powers our communities,
from Scout volunteers to
helping out at the school fete.”
‘The Big Help Out’ put
volunteering centre stage for a
day and has given people who
want to volunteer easy ways to
join in. So, if you haven’t already
done it, please put your hand
up and join The Big Help Out
in your community. Whether
it’s calling in on someone who
needs a bit of company or
sparing some time for charity
work, there will be something to
suit helping hands of all shapes
and sizes! Go to the website:
thebighelpout.org.uk for details.
Wellbeing in the Weald will
turn four this year and we are
proud to say we are making a
difference in our community
– from funding mindfulness
courses in local primary schools
to teaching cookery to older
men. On the weekly walks
and at our Wednesday dropin
afternoons we can see firm
friendships being made among
those who might otherwise be
isolated. Our newest initiative
is helping to host the Tuesday
‘Community Kitchen’ whereby
“Volunteering for
the Wednesday
drop-in has been
a great way to
meet people and
make friends. As
well as providing a
listening ear, it is so
rewarding to feel you
have helped others.”
any family with a child under 12
may join for a free hot meal.
Don’t just take our word for it,
here’s what our volunteers have
to say:
“I like walking but because my
husband could no longer walk
with me I joined the Wellbeing
Walks. I have now trained as a
walk leader. This has improved
my appreciation of the nature
around us and I have also met
lovely people.”
“Volunteering for the
Wednesday drop-in has been
a great way to meet people
and make friends. As well as
providing a listening ear, it is
so rewarding to feel you have
helped others.”
If you can spare some time
regularly or just occasionally,
here is a list of a few
volunteering opportunities with
Wellbeing in the Weald:
• Use your own skills – IT,
administration or social
media support
• Learn new skills – people
management, grow vegetables
on our allotment or become a
walk leader
• Help with volunteer
recruitment and publicity
• Welcome families to the
Tuesday Community Kitchen
• Help at events like fairs, quiz
evenings, open gardens
• Fundraising support – cake
and jam making, sewing,
knitting or crocheting items
to be sold at summer fairs.
We want to make sure you get
as much out of volunteering as
you put into it. That’s why we
work hard to match your goals,
personality and available time
with the activity.
Please contact us at hello@
wellbeingintheweald and we’d be
delighted to help find something
that suits you. Trust me. You
won’t regret it.
Dr Dineli Charlesworth, GP and
founding member
The Cake • Summer 2023 17