Aloha from Hawaii! It was the heading of an email I received recently and was a request for information on voluntary opportunities from someone who will be visiting Herefordshire later this year. It is not often that I receive requests for information about our volunteering roles from overseas, but the benefits of living in an interconnected world are that anyone wanting to visit or relocate to Herefordshire can find us online, search through our volunteering opportunities and make contact with us – all from wherever they may currently be living.

That got me to thinking about how we move around this beautiful county, if we don’t have access to a car. The public transport service is not the same as in more metropolitan cities, so we have developed a creative solution in establishing a community transport system run by the public for the public. There are limitations, as there are for all services provided by volunteers, we can’t expect volunteers to pick up at 4am to get someone to work for an early shift, but we can provide a friendly, safe journey for people attending health related appointments, meeting friends and getting to events or a volunteering role.

Now that the sun has arrived (it is shining brightly as I write this so forgive me if it’s pelting down when you read it) and the days are getting longer, our thoughts are turning to events taking place over the next few months. Whether sporting, music, food or community related, Herefordshire hosts a great selection of shows and organisers are seeking willing hands, in the form of volunteers, to make them a resounding success whilst keeping ticket prices down. So, it doesn’t matter if your skills are as a sound technician, a cricket umpire or in PR – there are opportunities for you all summer.

It is easy to search through our volunteering opportunities. Go to our website – www.hvoss.org.uk – and scroll to the bottom of the home page. Click on the orange button marked ‘I want to volunteer’ and then click on Login/Register. On the next page click Register and you will be able to upload your profile information. Our system protects your personal information, so organisations will not be able to see your date of birth, phone number/s, email address or home address. If you register, you will be able to indicate your interest direct to the organisations that have volunteering vacancies - and they can respond to you even without having your email address. We have new opportunities arriving regularly

If you prefer to meet up to discuss what roles might suit your skills and interests, please send an email to volunteer@hvoss.org.uk. If you don’t have email at home or want to come to hvoss to have a discussion about what opportunities might be suitable for you, please do call me to arrange an appointment on 01432 343932.

By Joy Harvey, HVOSS volunteering services officer