Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

VOLUNTEERS

At a meeting last week, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth Patrick Nicholson was singing the praises of all the inspirational people he and Sally have met in the past ten months of their mayoral year: charities, voluntary groups, social entrepreneurs, unsung and unknown heroes beavering away behind the scene serving and helping others, some motivated by their faith, some not. Every Lord Mayor finds the same thing as they hurtle through their busy year. Our city, our county, is full of selfless people doing their bit.

One of the constant delights of my work is meeting so many big-hearted people. We are surrounded by them: the professionals who look after special needs kids, the councillors who go the extra mile, the decision-makers whose leadership inspires others, the scout or guide leaders who pass on unchanging values to the next generation, or the community activists who challenge the status quo. But a special place in my esteem is reserved for the out and out volunteers who start a project from nothing and have to fight for every inch of progress.

Like the impressive group of ladies behind the Stairways group in Ivybridge that has been set up in recent months to create a stimulating environment for a group of local people with learning disabilities. They have started from scratch, have successfully raised some money to get going and buy start-up kit, have done whatever it takes to provide a great place for our special friends to learn whilst having fun. I have seen the impact it makes on their clients with my own eyes, and it is real and unique. These carers, who have started small, have great plans for the future.

They deserve all the support we, the wider community, can offer.
Why does it matter? Why not leave it all to the government? There is a lot that the state can do really well, but offering the personal, long term commitment that special people need, may not be one of them. Even our large charities can become over-bureaucratic and remote, although many of them started life, a hundred years ago or more, in just the same way as Stairways. A few people getting together to make a difference, and so Oxfam, or Save the Children were born.

To keep the wheels of society turning, it is crucial that in every generation new social entrepreneurs step forward with their energy and ideas. Let’s hear it for today’s volunteers.

posted by Nigel on Thursday, April 13, 2006