Volunteers urged to give details to help with future of service

More than 20,000 people in Hull regularly carry out unpaid work on behalf of others, roles that are becoming increasingly important with many organisations and charities facing funding cuts, and the Government encouraging communities to do more for themselves through the Big Society initiative.

To improve support for volunteers and those who employ them, and boost the ranks even further, Hull Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) is embarking on a three-month consultation that will be used as the basis for a three-year strategy on volunteering.

Tom Grealy, volunteer centre manager at Hull CVS, said: “As volunteering is the lifeblood of a healthy civil society in our city, we are keen to hear from those organisations whose work is supported by volunteers, as well as from the volunteers themselves.”

He added: “I would like to feel that every group or organisation that works with volunteers really values the volunteers that come to work with them, that’s really important, and for us who commit to volunteering, that they really feel supported and get something out of the work they are doing. That’s the message I would like to get across.

“We want to hear what their feelings and opinions are, what they think is missing. It’s really important because it’s at the stage where volunteering has always been the lifeblood of society, but more so now. Because of the cutbacks more charities are coming to us for support.”

Matthew Julian is one of the unsung heroes providing a vital service to society for no reward other than the pleasure he gets from his work.

Mr Julian is a police Special, working alongside regular officers with the same uniform, responsibilities and powers of arrest.

He has risen to the rank of sergeant after two years with Humberside Police, and as a member of the public order team policing Hull city centre and its night time economy, is very much on the frontline.

Police Specials used to receive a “bounty” of £92 a month, but this was withdrawn 18 months ago because of funding cuts.

This has not deterred Mr Julian, who gives up his leisure time on Friday and Saturday nights to keep the streets safe.

He said: “I do it because I enjoy it and I’m trying to get as many hours in as possible. We are more of a presence to prevent disorder but respond if anything does happen.

“The work is very varied; you could be dealing with something related to drugs or a domestic and recently there was a sudden death. There’s whole range of things in the city centre.

“I love the job and it’s good to see a job through. If you see someone distressed and you can help them and support them, that’s what keeps me doing it.”

Mr Julian is often on patrol with his father Chris, who is also a sergeant and has been a Special for 18 years.

Mr Grealy said there were many reasons why people volunteered.

He said: “That could be helping with a charity or working with animals, working with young people, in charity shops, or in a cyber cafe enabling older people to access the internet.

“There’s also the public sector such as libraries, museums, hospitals and the police.

“We do lots of work with people who have lost their jobs – it’s a great way of keeping your CV active. When a job comes along you have got an up to date reference. Employers want to know what you’ve been doing and if you’ve been volunteering it means someone knows you.

“People volunteer for all sorts of reasons, to give something back to the community, to make friends and if you are new to the area it’s a way of getting out of the house a bit and having fun. There’s something in it for everyone.”

To complete the short questionnaire visit www.hullcvs.org.uk. For more details call (01482) 324474.