Rewarding Experiences for the Retired
People who have retired from full time employment often find renewed fulfilment by volunteering with organisations working in their local communities.
If you are approaching retirement and wondering how to fill your time, or are already suffering from the potential “cabin fever” of retirement; volunteering can offer a rewarding activity presenting fresh challenges.
‘Helping Children and Young People’
There are lots of organisations that depend on volunteers to provide services for others and some of them are nearer than you may think. Often individuals can benefit organisations with specialist skills they have developed over a long career in a profession. Many charitable organisations rely on skilled individuals to enhance their services and the retires are a key workforce for many charities.
Perhaps you could teach art or craft with children? Got green hands? You might consider helping people younger than yourself with environmental and gardening projects. You may enjoy reading stories and would jump at the chance to read to children?
Do you see retirement as an opportunity to do something completely different? You could decide that after a career of sitting behind a desk or computer screen you would like to experience volunteering with children. Or perhaps you would like to share your housekeeping or cookery skills with others?
The YMCA is currently recruiting volunteers to help with the running of their current services and is specifically searching for individuals who would like children and young people to benefit from their specialist skills and experiences.
YMCA exists to provide local communities with resources focused on child care, family togetherness. and community. YMCA Fairthorne Group have a network of branches across Southern England which offers a broad range of services including but not limited to: Nursery care, residential group holidays; non-residential activity days; school holiday activity programmes (Daycamps); Children Support Service’s; community involvement events; meeting and conference facilities and development training days.
Specifically on the Isle of Wight the YMCA run two nurseries based in Newport and Shanklin for children 0 – 5 years. During school and summer holidays they run Daycamps for children aged 4 – 14. Also YMCA Winchester House based in Shanklin is a popular choice for school and group holidays and is open year round.
If you would like to find out more information about volunteering with the YMCA, please contact Kelly Matthews, Volunteering Project Co-ordinator on 01983 861076 or email volunteering @ymca-fg.org.
