Time to Volunteer?
Why?
Memories from volunteering form part of many key moments from my early years through to now. No matter what your motivator, the cause or outcome, volunteering and ‘helping out a bit’, has the potential to bring far more into your life than the time and skills you physically donate.
Giving a few hours can be a powerful way to give back and make a positive impact on the world around us. Sometimes it’s the skills you bring to others, which can transform a project helping bring it to life.
Time is a precious commodity. Volunteering in an environment where you are really helping, has the ability to make you feel good, for getting involved. Many businesses are embracing volunteering opportunities for their teams as part of their ESG drive, so now more than ever, you may be able to volunteer as part of your day job.Spending time with those from whom you can learn, joining behind the scenes opportunities and absorbing information from others’ including their points of view, builds your expertise.
The power of giving time can make a huge difference to the lives of others, spreading purpose and fulfilment. The experiences gained are transferred into other areas of your life. Who were those who helped you on your way into the world of marketing? Can you do this for others?
Volunteers from the CIM membership form the CIM South West and Channel Islands Committee. The Committee are representative of the diverse membership and marketing skill set across the area. The Committee is charged to ‘create and deliver a range of activities designed to meet the career development needs of members’. We are looking to add a few more people to our tight knit team to further enhance the initiatives offered and share the tasks – including Communication and Events Ambassadors. Our meetings are mainly held online where we discuss strategic event plans, promotion and logistics. The more help we have, ultimately the more we can do to support CIM members with CPD and networking opportunities, both face to face and online. Being on the Committee can also count towards your own CPD. Click here for more information on current vacancies or contact pippa.white@cim.co.uk
Even if now is not the right time for you, there are still plenty of ways you can support your local Committee from the side lines.
• Please do engage with our LinkedIn community page. Like, comment and share our posts with your connections, take part in our polls (we all know this is
what LinkedIn needs the our wider community to see our posts)
• Attend our events (booking early is a great help), offering a hand during the event (we would love to hear from any budding photographers or
videographers who can help us on our event on 19 September 2024)
• Send us content for our newsletters or LinkedIn page
• Let us know what you would like your local Committee to do to help our members
Wherever your skills lie, we would love access them on any scale.
National Volunteering Week celebrated it’s 40th anniversary in June this year, recognising the importance of volunteering to individuals and communities. Whilst businesses embrace volunteering for philanthropic goals, giving time and skills to help others is certainly a great thing to make a little time for.
CIM has its own Volunteer Awards, now in their 5th year, in recognition of the hard work from its volunteer community at local and national/international level. With members of the South West and Channel Islands Committee nominated for Unsung Hero and Volunteer of the Year in 2024.
For more information of how you can help your local Committee, support our local events, offer assistance in the future contact volunteers@cim.co.uk Who knows where it might take you, your career and that of others.
Carly Warren
Events Ambassador
South West and Channel Islands Committee