Celebrating and supporting charities and volunteers at The Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair and Big Help Out Event

The Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair and Big Help Out Event organised by GoVolHerts returns to Hitchin Market Place, SG5 1DY, on Friday 7 June, from 10am until 4pm. Come along and show your support for local charities and not-for-profit organisations. Discover how YOU can make a difference to your community.

Each year, The Big Help Out runs a national campaign that champions volunteers and highlights their positive impact. This event on 7 June, which occurs in the same week Volunteers’ Week celebrates its’ 40^th Anniversary, is set to continue the buzz about volunteering and support local charities to find more volunteers. Around 30 stalls are set to take over the Square in Hitchin Market Place, SG5 1DY – and everyone is invited to come along!

Many people help out a neighbour or do the odd errand, some offer their skills and time to a local school PTA or scout group, but they may not think they are “volunteering”. Volunteering comes in many forms, and many of us do it, perhaps without realising it. Volunteers dedicate their time to supporting charities for different reasons, maybe because it makes them feel good, or they get to meet new friends and have a sense of purpose, others may volunteer to gain experience which may lead to career prospects. Whatever form it takes, volunteering makes a huge difference to volunteers, charities, and those who rely on these organisations.

Tatiana Campos, Volunteering Development Lead at GoVolHerts said: “We’re excited to host this event in the historic centre of Hitchin; it is a great opportunity for people to meet the extraordinary teams behind our local charities and understand why volunteers are so vital to the work they do. We’re expecting a visit from The Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the Hertfordshire Director of Libraries, and Herts Fire and Rescue Service, along with representatives from Hertfordshire County Council. We hope this event will encourage more people to try something new, discover the benefits of volunteering, and learn how they can make a huge difference to their community. We’d encourage anyone curious about volunteering to come along and show your support, there are some fantastic charities keen to talk to people. Lastly, we would like to thank Visit Hitchin for their support in facilitating this event.”

Some of the local charities which will be attending include: Hertfordshire Gardens Trust, Hertfordshire Mind Network, Hitchin Pantry, Letchworth Arts and Leisure Group, RNLI, Sue Ryder, The Red Shed, Garden House Hospice Care, Blind Veterans UK and many more! Go to www.govolherts.org.uk/the-big-help-out for more information or email the team info@govolherts.org.uk.

GoVolHerts is a free one-stop hub for volunteering in Hertfordshire which supports people in finding their ideal volunteering opportunity by connecting them with 580 volunteering opportunities with over 360 charities via their website www.govolherts.org.uk. It is a project funded by Hertfordshire County Council and operated by North Herts and Stevenage Community Voluntary Service. This event has been made possible by the support of Visit Hitchin.