New Project to Support Volunteering in Baildon

Baildon Town Council supports a wide range of volunteer-led groups and organisations in the area, from Shipley Glen Tramway to Baildon Carnival. The Council provides grants to local groups and, whilst funding is important, the organisations also need a good number of volunteers to enable them to achieve their aims.

Baildon Town Council has received feedback from local organisations who are struggling to recruit and retain volunteers, including:

• Reduced numbers of people are volunteering following the pandemic;
• Existing volunteers are getting older, new volunteers are needed to ensure that groups are able to survive;
• Younger volunteers often move on from volunteering into paid work or education creating a constant cycle of recruitment.

Often local groups themselves are run by volunteers who give a lot of their time to ensuring that there are enough volunteers.

In response to feedback and suggestions made by local organisations, the Volunteering in Baildon project has been developed that aims to develop new and collaborative ways to support the voluntary sector in Baildon. During its first six months, the project will:

• Gather information about volunteering opportunities in the local area;
• Promote them to the wider community, e.g. via website, social media, in the library
• Recruit a team of volunteers willing to get involved in community events e.g. Baildon Christmas Lights switch on or the Harley Davidson Rally;
• Collaborate with Baildon Community Link to ensure that their Volunteers Fair continues to be supported by Baildon Town Council.

The Volunteers Fair will take place on Thursday 16 January 2025 between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Baildon Community Link, Cliffe Avenue, Baildon.

Cllr John Turner said "Volunteers are the life-blood of Baildon. They give lots of their time and energy to support activities and events that take place locally. We, at the Town Council, fully support this initiative."
If you are interested in, getting involved, please contact Rachel Gallagher, Volunteer Coordinator on vc@baildontowncouncil.gov.uk

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