How important are volunteers to Launchpad?
We simply couldn’t run our services without the support of our amazing volunteers. They work across all areas of the organisation and in all sorts of roles – and every year they collectively give the charity over 7,000 hours of their time, equivalent to 292 days of the year. Their work makes a huge difference to the way we work and the people we support.
What is a typical volunteer role at Launchpad and how much time do people give?
There isn’t a typical role! Our volunteers work in both client-facing or back office roles – they provide counselling, support homeless people at our drop-in service, run activity and hobby groups, cheer on runners at our events, give community talks about the charity, and help with office-based administration.
Our regular volunteers work with us for a few hours or even days a week, and other volunteers support us on a more ad-hoc basis at fundraising events such as Big Sleep Out and the Pancake Race.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to your community and it is incredibly rewarding – but it isn’t just about doing good. Giving your time to charity can help you develop new skills, boost your confidence, give you a chance to meet new people and open up new career opportunities. It can also make you really feel like part of something – especially at Launchpad where we consider our volunteers as one of the team.
Hear from our volunteers
Amy was born and bred in Reading, and says that the flexibility of being a Micro Volunteer for Launchpad fits in really well around her full time job.
Annabel has been volunteering with Launchpad for five years in a number of different roles, and says she’ll volunteer for the rest of her life if she’s able to.
Daniel is one of four volunteer trained counsellors at Launchpad, who offer clients a safe place to talk, free of charge. He has been volunteering with Launchpad since 2017.
If you’d like to volunteer for Launchpad or have any questions about volunteering – contact our volunteering team by calling 0118 950 7656 or emailing volunteers@launchpadreading.org.uk
