Jim Fitzpatrick MP visits Volunteer Fair at Old Spitalfields Market

Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets organised the Tower Hamlets Volunteering Fair, a free Volunteering Fair in Old Spitalfields Market from 12pm to 2.30pm on Wednesday 2 June. 30 local volunteer involving organisations, including the Metropolitan Police, Spitalfields Music, Alzheimer’s Society, City Year and the Bangladeshi Football Association, had recruitment stalls at the event. Old Spitalfields Market kindly provided stall spaces for free. Hundreds of local residents, students and workers attended. Local MP Jim Fitzpatrick came along to support the event and chat to organisations and volunteers.

This was an event for anyone interested in volunteering or looking to find the right volunteering placement. The organisations that took part offer a wide variety of volunteering roles, from mentoring to catering, from music to overseas volunteering and sports- related opportunities.

Tahera Begum is one of our remarkable volunteers and helped on Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets stall. She has volunteered with adults with learning disabilities, assisted in a free legal advice centre, co-directed a drama production, and helped build a school in India. “I volunteer because it opens up opportunities. It is a great way to meet different people, acquire skills and a fantastic way to build on personal and professional development”, says Tahera, “it can also make a difference when competing in a saturated jobs market. The fact that my contribution helps a worthy cause, a project or a person is also an immense incentive to keep volunteering.”

Tower Hamlets has a great volunteering record. In 2007 volunteering contributed nearly £52 million to our local economy, with one in three Tower Hamlets residents participating in volunteering activities in the previous year. In 2008-2009 Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets helped 1,780 people living, working or studying in the borough. But Tower Hamlets needs more volunteers. There are opportunities for students, unemployed people, and experienced workers. There are more than 500 volunteering opportunities in Tower Hamlets, ranging from a couple of hours a month to full-time positions, so there is always one that is perfect for you. If you are interested please ring Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets on 020 7377 0956 or visit www.vcth.org.uk

Tower Hamlets Volunteering Fair marks Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June. Volunteers’ Week is all about celebrating and inspiring volunteers across the country.

About Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets
Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets helps people living, working or studying in Tower Hamlets find the right volunteering opportunity. We also recruit volunteers for a wide variety of non-profit organisations and groups in Tower Hamlets. We work with these groups and their Volunteer Co-ordinators, providing them with free information, training and advice on all aspects of volunteering. Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets is the nationally recognised volunteer development agency for the borough of Tower Hamlets.

About 'Volunteers’ Week
Volunteers’ Week is an annual event which celebrates the fantastic contribution that millions of volunteers make across the UK. The Week plays a huge part in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, while inspiring others to get involved too. To highlight this contribution, there is a burst of activity during 1-7 June when a host of organizations from the public, private and voluntary sectors hold parties and award ceremonies to thank their volunteers.