Shropshire's High Sheriff hails county's army of volunteers

When Christine Holmes was installed as Shropshire's High Sheriff earlier this year, she was determined to celebrate the vital role volunteers play in the community.

Christine, whose busy programme helps give a platform to these volunteers, was also keen to do one of the most important things of all and say "thank you".

And it was quite a moment when about 230 tireless volunteers gathered for tea at RAF Cosford to meet the High Sheriff and hear her pay tribute to them and to the thousands more who work constantly and tirelessly for Shropshire.

Christine said: "As High Sheriff I have had the opportunity and privilege to see many volunteers in action and have been able with talk to them and discuss all aspects of their activity. I have been astonished by the breadth and depth of volunteering in the county.

"We have more than 3,000 charities in a population close to half a million. That is an incredible statistic and a great credit to the Shropshire community."

Of course, it's not all about charities. There are many other areas of our lives where volunteers step in with invaluable help. So what insight has all this given this year's High Sheriff about the great activity of volunteering?

"Well, I think that there are a number of motivations for volunteers – those who have time on their hands or are bored and want something to do, those who are doing it for fun or to learn, those who want to give something back to society or those who are driven because it's personal to them.

"There is also the 'unexpected' volunteer.

"This is an increasing area of activity where rural bus services might disappear or the village shop closes, people realise that unless they do something, it could be lost forever.

"They may never have planned to be a volunteer, this is a new era of increasingly providing core and essential services.

"I am also absolutely certain that whatever a person enjoys doing, there is a voluntary opportunity for them to maintain and share their skills with like-minded people who are fun to be with. All volunteers matter and all deserve equal support. It does not matter why people volunteer, it just matters that they do.

"The rate of change in the voluntary sector is rapid and sometimes has appeared to me unplanned and not co-ordinated.

"There seems to be a belief that if a service is withdrawn or transferred to the voluntary sector, that there are is unlimited number of volunteers fully trained and equipped to provide that service.

"Or that voluntary organisations will spring up spontaneously in response to needs and co-ordinate themselves without external guidance or help. I think these are misplaced beliefs.

"If we want an effective, proactive and efficient voluntary sector we must provide it with support," she added.

"We are in a time of great uncertainty of funding – many charities have a hand-to-mouth existence, unable to plan for the future. There are so many competing for funds and with the dramatic reduction in central government and local authority funding, raising money is a huge challenge."

But Christine is also well aware that spirits need lifting and that the amazing efforts of volunteers must always be acknowledged. "It is too easy to dwell on the issues and problems," she said. "Instead let us celebrate what volunteers are doing here.

"So why is volunteering important to Shropshire? It is vital to the sustainability of our communities, encouraging social cohesion and diversity, helps cross the generation divide and fosters understanding and compassion. It can be important for personal development, it is good for us and good for our communities

"With all these benefits it should be easy to attract and retain volunteers to replace those who are retiring and to cope with increasing demands. But unfortunately it is not. There are serious problems of continuity and succession, in particular with smaller charities."

So Christine, backed by husband David, decided on a celebration event drawing people from all over the county to record the work they were doing and appealing for photographs of volunteers in action. Almost 100 organisations responded with the results on show at the Cosford party.

She explained: "I wanted to get together those at the sharp end, who work week in, week out, who would never normally seek the limelight or indeed be offered it. I am amazed by the variety and value of work they do with services, help and support for their communities which enrich our lives end enhance the prosperity of Shropshire. Volunteers add to the richness of Shropshire life."

On tea-party day, the county's Lord Lieutenant Sir Algernon Heber-Percy sent a message of support and his thanks to everyone concerned, while Christine Holmes added: "Volunteering gives you the feel good factor of being engaged with life and your community. So I am encouraging everyone to Celebrate Shropshire.

"We live in a great county full of wonderful people doing amazing things and volunteering is one of those amazing things."