21 May Awareness and fundraising events offer volunteers plenty of ways to help out locally

VOLUNTEERS are everywhere. Throw a stick (metaphorically speaking) at any event, and you will surely hit one.

Volunteers are the backbone of organisations and events across the Bay, and we have a few big events coming up this year that will need hundreds of you to get involved.

Each week, I get to celebrate volunteers and volunteering on the community radio station, Riviera FM, itself staffed mostly by volunteers. Every Tuesday between 10 am and 1 pm, I get to talk to those who make things happen in the Bay.

In every area of the Bay, some people step up to make things happen and keep stepping up even when the going gets tough. Where would we have been without them through the COVID-19 crisis?

And they continue to give of their skills and of their time day in day out, year in and year out, and we cannot praise them enough. Ever.

At the end of this month, the English Riviera Airshow takes to the skies for a two-day spectacular over Paignton, but it would not get off the ground without the support of volunteers who will be helping out.

The Airshow initially launched in 2016, but it was quickly realised that without the aid of volunteers, the event would be prohibitively expensive despite the benefits it returns to the local economy.

An army of volunteers marshals the crowds, sells programmes, manages donation buckets and provides support on the ground. They also get some of the best views of the air spectacular above them.

Set to take place later this year, Torbay Communities are organising a relay called “Walk & Talk The Bay”, which will need dozens of volunteers to ensure it all goes smoothly.

We will need walk leaders, marshals, and local historians willing to impart their knowledge about the Bay to the walkers taking part over the 14.2-mile course split into approximately two-mile legs to make it more manageable for all abilities.

All the details of the Saturday, September 13^th walk, along with the sections, will soon be added to the event’s page on our website.

Another huge undertaking involving volunteers every step of the way takes place on Tuesday, September 30^th, when the suicide prevention initiative, the Baton of Hope, comes to Torbay.

More than 100 people who have been affected by suicide will be carrying the Olympic torch-style (without the flame) baton a few hundred yards each over the course, which runs from Torquay, through to Paignton, to South Devon College and into Brixham before travelling back to Torquay for a finale event.

The safety of the walkers is, of course, paramount, and we estimate that we will need around 100 volunteers to provide the support needed along the route to ensure it all goes smoothly.

The above are just three of the bigger events that rely on volunteers; there are others in towns and villages across the Bay taking place most days of the week, from fetes to coffee mornings.

The benefits of volunteering are well known, and as well as a feeling of wellbeing for a job well done, there are also well-documented health benefits

Here are some of the key advantages:

• Personal growth – develops empathy, patience, and a sense of purpose.
• Skill development – enhances communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Career advancement – provides networking opportunities, work experience, and resume-building.
• Mental and physical Health – reduces stress, boosts happiness (through dopamine release), and can improve physical activity levels.
• Social connections– helps meet new people, build friendships, and combat loneliness.
• Increased happiness – the act of giving back releases endorphins, leading to the “helper’s high.”
• Sense of fulfilment – making a positive impact creates lasting satisfaction.

If you want to know more about volunteering or want to volunteer for any of the events listed above, sign up at VolunteerTorbay.com. You will be asked to fill out a short form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

IF you want to know about other opportunities out there, you can also visit the Torbay Together website.

If you or your organisation want to talk about volunteers and volunteering on Riviera FM, drop me a line via email – [email protected] and we will get you on the show for a chat. We are also about to launch a podcast of all the interviews. Watch this space.