Reflections on Volunteering and the Environment

We’re on the fourth day of Volunteers’ Week 2015 now, and here we return to the theme of the Environment and Volunteering that we explored previously.

Here’s Vicky’s reflections on Volunteering and the Environment…

In the current financial climate we are all well aware of the fact that we need to take extra care of the money that we get, but we also need to support the high street; what better way to do this than by supporting local charities that grow food or make items for the home or even by buying that outfit that you love in the window of the local charity shop.

By doing this we support a charity, support the local economy, save tonnes of pollution from trucks moving things across the country and give volunteers the practical experience that they need to help them to potentially gain employment and turn their lives around.

As we go about our day to day lives we travel past a huge number of charity shops selling second hand clothes and books and toys; what we don’t see very easily are the Green Futures, growing fresh local produce, the Rock Foundations with a selection of hand-made wooden items for the home and garden, or the Care4All’s, with their garden centre selling a selection of plants and pre-made hanging baskets. What about the shops selling on second hand furniture.

All of these have a positive impact on the environment and the local economy; helping to make our local environment a better place to live in.