Volunteering opportunities in Shropshire

Not only is volunteering incredibly rewarding, it is a great way to gain new skills, improve confidence, meet new people and give your CV a boost.

To mark the end of Volunteers' Week, here's our round up of local charitable causes and organisations that are looking for people to donate their time.

Volunteer at your local British Red Cross shop and give something back to the community, and earn an NVQ in retail or customer service at the same time. Volunteers will create exciting new displays or even develop a new areas such as a retro and vintage section. People with an eye for detail or flair for design who are able to work as part of a team can find more information at gs11.globalsuccessor.com

Help to preserve history by volunteering at the Shropshire Archives in Shrewsbury. Volunteers are needed to help clean and conserve fragile documents, input information into the archive catalogue, work with its extensive photographic collection and assist staff on a range of projects. They are also looking for volunteers to help with their family history service. For more information visit www.shropshire.gov.uk/archives.nsf

With already approximately 800 volunteers working at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, this is a great chance to meet new people. Volunteers are needed to help run the Trust's Chaplaincy service and assist patients to attend Sunday services in the hospital chapel. After basic training volunteers are also able to work alongside chaplains and support patients at their bedside. For more information visit http://www.sath.nhs.uk/working-with-us/Volunteers/chaplaincy.aspx

Help preserve over 260 hectares with the Severn George Countryside Trust, which works to conserve landscape, wildlife and public access. Volunteers are always needed to help maintain vast areas of woodlands, heathland and meadows. The trust provides all tools and equipment and even offers some training to those who are interested. For more information visit: http://www.severngorge.org.uk

Over the last 40 years Shropshire Mind has helped thousands of people with mental health issues. Volunteers opportunities are available in fundraising, communications and publicity, supporting and running help groups and much more.

It's a great chance to build your understanding of mental health and gain a solid skills foundation for anyone wanting to enter the caring profession. For more information visit: www.shropshiremind.org

Walking for Health is a charity designed to help people to stay active. The Shrewsbury scheme has 13 walks designed to get people out and about. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available ranging from walk leader and walk assistant to admin and promotion. For more information visit http://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/

Volunteers play an important part at every level of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, whether its helping to look after nature reserves, office tasks, surveying or running wildlife watch groups. They are also able to point you in the direction of other environmental organisations that might need your help as well. For more information visit www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

The Oxfam shop in Shrewsbury town centre is currently looking for a volunteer to help run the busy shop. Volunteers will help with tasks from sorting, steaming, selecting, stock ordering, till work, customer service, window displays and processing Gift Aided items. Training is offered, making it a brilliant stepping stone for anyone hoping to work in retail. For more information visit www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/oxfam-bookshop-shrewsbury

The Shropshire Broadplaces offer local residents assess to broadband, computers and a range of IT equipment and are situated throughout 35 rural locations in Shropshire. You don't have to be an IT expert to volunteer, just be able to help someone find their way around a computer. It's a fantastic opportunity to gain new skills, improve your CV and help and meet new people. For more information visit www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshirebroadplaces

North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours aims to give practical and emotional support, campaigning and signposting to elderly people living IN the area. They are currently looking for volunteers to help taking people shopping, collect their pensions, transport to doctors/hospital appointments, be a friend and companion. Each volunteer is subject to a Police CRB check and two satisfactory references. For more information visit http://www.nsfn.org.uk