This Volunteers’ Week find out about Volunteer Centre Sefton team’s volunteering activities.
Lauren Jones
Volunteer Centre Coordinator
Hi I’m Lauren, Volunteer Centre Sefton Coordinator. I have been involved in many different types of volunteering and recently have been volunteering with my 3 year old Miniature Shetland pony, Squirrel. I got Squirrel when he was 7 months old and he has started doing therapy pony visits.
Recently we have been to Woodlands Hospice to visit patients and Southport College as part of their Coronation celebrations. We have been asked to go back to both and have also been asked to go to a care home, a school and Buddy Up.
I also take part in fundraising outside of work by doing things like organising horse agility days on my yard. In the last few years (after COVID lock downs stopped us) we have donated to Cancer Research UK and Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary and have raised over £600.
I have also dressed up as an elf for Crosby RDA Christmas Fairs and organised games during their summer fundraisers and taken part in challenge events such as Tough Mudder for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. I will be wearing the Queenie bee outfit for Queenscourt hospice as part of their open garden and am an Enterprise advisor for the LCR Careers Hub.
I really enjoy volunteering and feel a great sense of satisfaction to be involved in supporting charitable causes. It is a great way to get involved in my local community and meet new people.
Catrin Hughes (AKA Cat)
Volunteer Development Officer
I have been volunteering for the NCT, running the Southport Walk & Talk since February 2021. I was on maternity leave and found being at home, during the pandemic, with a baby and toddler difficult. The NCT got permission to run Walk & Talks nationwide with limited numbers in 2021 and were looking for volunteers. When I saw the ad, I signed up! I’m still running the walks once a week around the Marine Lake.
Doing the walks during the pandemic made a massive difference to my life. I was suffering with post-natal depression; meeting and helping other mums improved my mood and helped me to come out on the other side.
The NCT Southport, Formby & Ormskirk branch had been dormant for some time, and since 2021, the branch has run walks in Formby and now in Ormskirk as well as Southport. For me, volunteering has helped to boost my confidence and has helped me change my career to the job I have today, which I love.
I have also volunteered for Breastfeeding Sefton and as a feeding helper for the ABA infant feeding study.
If you would like to get involved with some of the organisations mentioned here, click the links below to see their current opportunities:
Volunteer Centre Sefton 