As an advocate of the contribution volunteers make to the lives of others, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Adam has signed up to help out at a number of charitable organisations in the city during Volunteers’ Week 2016 (Wednesday 01 June – Sunday 12 June).
Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.
The Lord Provost was a driver’s assistant and food distributor on Friday (3 June) at the Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) at 2 Poynernook Road, just off of Market Street, heading towards Torry.
CFINE is the lead partner in the Food Banks Partnership Aberdeen, which involves 40 partner voluntary organisations, churches and Aberdeen City Council. While at the community initiative the Lord Provost met Chief Executive Officer Dave Simmers and some of the volunteers.
The Lord Provost said: “Volunteers do an incredible job across Aberdeen. Volunteering not only helps the community, it also offers the volunteer the opportunity to develop new skills, get a real sense of fulfilment and meet new friends. There are hundreds of vacancies across a range of organisations in Aberdeen so during Volunteers Week is the ideal time to encourage everyone to have a look at the opportunities available in the city and to seriously consider volunteering their time.”
Statistics provided by CFINE revealed an increase in the use of the food bank – over 1,000 emergency parcels distributed in May 2016, coupled with over 55 tonnes of surplus produce regenerated through FareShare – benefitting over 120 organisations, which equates to 130,000 meals.
Dave Simmers, chief executive officer, CFINE, said: “Unfortunately, the need for emergency food has increased however we recognise that food banks alone are not a productive endeavour; they create dependency, erode dignity and do nothing to change the status quo, however, when people are hungry, they are a necessity. With this in mind, CFINE, and the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen partnership puts in place additional support and advice on matters such as financial and employability. We adopt a people centric approach and aim to help people get out the bit.
“Volunteers are the backbone of CFINE and they play a critical role in the day-to-day success of the operation. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and I would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to get in touch.”
To find out more about CFINE and possible volunteering opportunities visit their website.
The Lord Provost’s week of volunteering will also include:
- Being a Front of House assistant at Arts Centre & Theatre Aberdeen from 6.30pm for tonight’s performance of Oliver;
- Helping out at the Silver City Surfers School Squad Project at Scotstown School at 1.15pm on Monday 6 June;
- Planting bulbs with the Friends of Seaton Park at 10.30am on Thursday 9 June;
- Making up food parcels and peeling potatoes with the Cyrenians at 11am on Friday 10 June.
Joyce Duncan, Chief Executive of ACVO, the volunteering support organisation for Aberdeen, said: “Volunteer Week provides a great opportunity to talk about how you currently volunteer to support your community and to introduce others to the amazing range of volunteering opportunities on offer. Volunteering has something of interest for everyone from sharing digital skills to cleaning up your local park, using your business know how or learning a new sport in a youth group. Don’t miss out, volunteer.”
For information on other volunteering opportunities in the city visit http://www.volunteerscotland.net/ and put Aberdeen in the search box.
This year’s Volunteer Week (Wednesday 01 June-Sunday 12 June) has been extended to coincide with the Patron's Lunch - a celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s lifetime of service to more than 600 charities and organisations to which she is Patron - on the occasion of her 90th birthday.