By Anna Ruggiero

DO WE FULLY understand the true benefits of volunteering? Many of us have seen the adverts on TV reaching out to us and campaigning for our precious time, showcasing the benefits of volunteering has on the various not-for-profit organisations. But did you know that volunteering can actually increase your prospects in the job market, give you valuable skills towards your chosen career and massively contribute to your emotional well-being and sense of self-worth?

From meeting new people to being a valued part of the local community, the interest in volunteering isgrowing and this has been attributed to the current economic climate and the rising levels of unemployment which is encouraging people to find ways to fi ll their time and gain new and valuable skills.

Annette Atkinson, Volunteer Centre Coordinator at Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service (PCVS) explains: “At the Volunteer Centre, we are very passionate about the benefits of volunteering and always believe it can bring some amazing changes to people’s lives. With unemployment so high at the moment, it gives people a reason to get up and keep active and can also fill in unemployment gaps.”

In today’s world, volunteering is no longer just about retired people having some free time to spare; it now attracts a broad spectrum of society.

Phil Dobbs, Administration Support for Peterborough Advice Integration Project at Peterborough Citizens Advice Bureau says: “We now attract a much wider variety of people across Peterborough than we used to. We have graduates, part-time workers, single mothers, semi-retired people, jobseekers – a real mixture of ages and backgrounds. As a ‘work-force’ the volunteers are an excellent representation of Peterborough as a whole.”

In Peterborough alone, there are 600 not-for-profi t organisations and many rely on the support of volunteers and would potentially not exist without this extra workforce.

Katie Low, Head of Participation and Active Citizenship at Young Lives explains: “For us, volunteers bring with them fresh ideas and enthusiasm and this extra help also means that we can achieve things that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”

Volunteers are not only seen as an integral part of the team, but are also encouraged to reach their potential as they would in an active paid role. Katie continues: “For it to work, volunteering has to be a mutually beneficial experience for both the individual volunteer and the organisations. We carry out regular reviews to ensure they are enjoying their oles and feel part of the team.”

It can also help put life into perspective and as one volunteer from Peterborough Samaritans reflects: “After I have listened to callers’ problems and fears it makes me think of my own life in a different perspective. It helps me forget about my own little problems and helps me to see what’s good in my life. I used to try and solve any problems my family spoke to me about but now I find that good listening helps my family and friends work things out for themselves in a much better way.”

A fantastic website to start your volunteering mission on is http://www.doit.org.uk/ where you will find a varied range of new and exciting roles.

By Anna Ruggiero

CREATING A SERENE space on what can be described as a chaotic concrete jungle is by no means an easy feat but Sophie Antonelli and her dedicated team of volunteers have done just that.

The Green Backyard in Oundle Road, Peterborough, first sprung to life in 2009 and in just three short years, the site has been completely transformed into a productive community green space, a vibrant garden and a wildlife haven housing chickens, ducks, rabbits and bumble bees.

Sophie and her team of green crusaders’ hard work has not gone unnoticed and in 2010 the project was announced the Best Community Project in the Anglia region by Anglia in Bloom. It has also been grantedseveral awards through the Peterborough Telegraph’s Green Awards.

Nature is a wonderful healer and The Green Backyard, through its very existence, is incredibly therapeutic for the thousands of volunteers that contribute to this wonderful project. Not only is being immersed in nature a positive life enhancement but Sophie has found that it also creates a positive knock-on effect throughout people lives and their daily routine.

Sophie says: “From one of our volunteers who suffered with depression to another who had to leave his highflying corporate job through stress, I have seen hundreds of people make small changes in their lives, Whether that’s growing more food at home, cooking more, getting involved with social activities or just learning a new skill, all of them have been motivated by the shared pride of being involved in an independently run community space.”

The Green Backyard also offers self-esteem to communities. Sophie explains: “Volunteering is generally a fantastically rewarding thing to do as it helps people give back to the communities that support them and to actively shape and nurture their City for future generations.”

The facts speak for themselves, during their growth in the last three years, the project has generated over £1million in volunteer hours, held over 500 community events as well as workshops, conker championships, community picnics, art jams and music festivals.

Amanda Ascott has grown up in the City and is a frequent visitor. She says: “I am a fond visitor of the Green Backyard and I enjoy the many activities and talks they hold. It’s lovely to have a green haven right in the centre of our City!”

Sophie and her team are extremely proud of the project and so they should be. With life’s pace ever increasing and our green space ever decreasing, the impact this community inspired project has on individuals is awe inspiring. Sadly though, the project could, in the next few years, be torn down and its roots relocated to another part of the City.

Sophie explains: “The future at the moment is a little unclear, we are delighted that Peterborough City Council support our work, however they feel that the site could be better used for development and is at risk of being sold. We have been assured that we will be relocated but after so many hours of work we would much rather stay where we are to continue to develop our wonderful community resource.”

If you have time why not pop down and see for yourself why it is so important that this inspirational project in the heart of our City is not lost and for anyone wanting to support it further, the Green Backyard encourages you to write an email to your local ward Councillors voicing your opinion on the benefits that nature can have in the community.

By Anna Ruggiero

AS CONSUMERS, do we ever really consider the changing face of our high street and the implications that it has on us a community and society?

A downturn in the economy equalled with the boom in internet shopping has seen many independent retailers regrettably shutting up shop.

Replacing the energy and hustle and bustle of our high streets, we are now faced with an abundance of soul-less retail parks that may satisfy our need for a quick fix in terms of retail therapy but they do not and should not, take the place of our high street.

Do we really want to lose the personal touch and in its place be met with plastic products and plastic smiles?

Cities such as Brighton are still whole heartedly and proudly flying the flag for independent retailers and its makes your shopping trip an exciting adventure. Shop windows are works of art and each shop offers a unique experience of sounds and smells. It’s what shopping should be.

Rachel Parkin, owner of high street boutique Reba and silver jewellery wholesaler, Balagan, has strong views on independent retailers and why we should all try and support the high street.

She explains, “The high street should be able to cater for everyone in town, so there should be a mix of business, a vibrant mix of retailers, a bit of healthy competition. The fun part of shopping is the element of not knowing exactly what you’re going to find that, that’s what makes shopping a pleasurable experience. “

Rachel continues, “Town and City centres aren’t purely about places of business, there’s a social aspect too. Community involvement and interaction are good for us individuals on many levels, and that’s before we begin to explore what it means for our community. Independent businesses really are vital to our local economy and also ensure the unique character of an area.”

Philip Yau, owner of Janson Hong in Peterborough, also fully supports the positive influence of independent retailers on the high street and says, “The focus needs to be brought squarely back to the high street. What kinds of shops do people want to see there?

How can the high street draw visitors in from other places? What part does the infrastructure play?”

Peterborough does offer a great choice when it comes to retail giants but if we are looking for something truly unique, we sometimes have to travel further afield.

Let’s hope that boutiques such as Reba who are celebrating their independence along with encouragement from Peterborough Council, we will see a u-turn and our high streets can play host to plenty more vibrant and lively shops.