Mixed experiences for volunteer groups in Suffolk

Community Action Suffolk offers support to voluntary, community and social enterprises in Suffolk (VCSE). 

It recently published the results of a survey, after speaking with 97 VCSE organisations in Suffolk about how they were faring under the current cost-of-living crisis. 

More than half said they had seen their numbers of volunteers decline. In focus groups, they explained that many volunteers have been forced to take on additional hours at work, and therefore had a decreased amount of ‘disposable time’. 

Barbara Thorn is senior trustee of the Ipswich branch of Mencap, which supports those with learning disabilities or Down’s Syndrome and their families.   

Earlier this month, she said that the organisation was in need of additional volunteers, particularly from younger people, with 70 being the average age of current Mencap volunteers. 

However, there are organizations in Suffolk which are bucking this trend. 

Rebecca Marston and Sacha Naylor are the joint directors of Dora Brown Homemaking. Credit: Julia Bostock (Image: Julia Bostock)

Dora Brown volunteers, Louise Craigie and Sarah Cotton. Credit: Dora Brown (Image: Dora Brown)

Dora Brown volunteer, Becky Peacock. Credit: Dora Brown (Image: Dora Brown)

Dora Brown Homemaking offers a ‘reset’ to the homes of people who are struggling to cope in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge. Clients are referred to Dora Brown for a variety of reasons, including mental health issues, grief and poverty. 

Joint director Rebecca Marston said the number of people volunteering at Dora Brown was not declining.  

“We’re seeing the opposite,” she said. “Because of the cost-of-living crisis, people are being spurred on to help each other, and that is exactly what we do [at Dora Brown].  

“People are really turning out for us.” 

Meanwhile in Ipswich, Jemma Wood is the head of volunteering at St Elizabeth Hospice. 

She said: “Our recent Support Our Shops volunteer campaign proved successful, with nearly 100 new volunteers joining the hospice team. 

“We remain positive this volunteer drive will continue to encourage others to show their love for their local hospice and volunteer.” 

Jemma Wood is the head of volunteering at St Elizabeth Hospice. Credit: St Elizabeth Hospice (Image: St Elizabeth Hospice)

Ashley Meyer, 78, from Melton, said the benefits of volunteering were enormous. He currently volunteers for several organisations, including Oxfam, Cancer Research, Home-Start in Suffolk, and Woodbridge-based youth charity, Jetty Lane. 

He said that the social aspects of volunteering are hugely rewarding. 

“I have always been a people-person,” he said. “I have met some amazing ones through volunteering. I moved to Suffolk from London six years ago, and was so impressed by the sheer amount of charitable activity in Suffolk.” 

Volunteers at Jetty Lane youth charity in Woodbridge. First left, Ashley Meyer from Melton. (Image: Charlotte Bond)