JourneyOnline
The 2016 National Volunteer Week theme is “Give Happy, Live Happy”, a message that resonates with Uniting Church members who volunteer in the Queensland community. Journey reports.
Every year National Volunteer Week is a prominent opportunity to draw attention to the vital work volunteers do across the nation. This year’s theme for the week, from 9–15 May, continues on from 2015: “Give Happy, Live Happy”, a message to remind people of the positive impact volunteering brings for both provider and recipient.
The facts are clear that volunteering strongly correlates with the happiness, health and longevity of people who are compassionate and kind in their charitable work, and that sustained volunteering is associated with better mental health.
Wesley Mission Brisbane is always eager for new volunteers, experienced or otherwise, to get involved and has over 80 different volunteering programs throughout Queensland.
For National Volunteer Week, the organisation will hold “thank you” celebrations within various volunteer programs and release the full results from their 2016 Volunteer Satisfaction Survey. Most notably the survey data aligns with national trends that the volunteers “feel good giving others a helping hand”, they “really enjoy being part of, involved in, and contributing to the community”, and that they consider Wesley Mission Brisbane a good place to volunteer.
For social and community groups a volunteering partnership with Wesley Mission Brisbane is a wonderful way of cultivating team work skills while making a genuine contribution to those in your area.
Uniting Church members who volunteer certainly have direct experience of the positive impact their work has for the lives of others and their own spiritual wellbeing.
For Barbara Beattie, a member of the Living Rivers Uniting Church, her volunteer work with Youngcare Coomera began with its inception when Wesley Mission first decided to establish a place for young people with high care needs.
“It’s very rewarding going to Youngcare, they make you feel welcome. It’s great to be able to do something for these people who can’t do it for themselves,” says Barbara.
“It’s what we were taught, to love your neighbour. I have to be prepared every Monday morning and God is with me.
“I think Wesley Mission Brisbane is doing a great job for people with disabilities as well as everybody else. I was over at our church this morning and thought, ‘what’s that noise?’ and they’ve started to build extra units.”
And for those contemplating volunteer work, Barbara has a simple yet motivational message: “Take the challenge and do it.”
For further information on National Volunteer Week volunteeringaustralia.org/nvw/
To access information on volunteer programs at Wesley Mission Brisbane visit wmb.org.au/get-involved/volunteering
