Community First relaunched its Hampshire-wide volunteering website Volunteer First, formerly known as Volunteer Wessex, on Thursday 9th July. The newly refreshed website is based on feedback from users, and will make it easier than ever for volunteers to find local roles of interest and for recruiters to find suitable volunteers in their area.
To get started, visit our home page. You can register as a volunteer or as a recruiter. The new improved search tool will make it easy for people to find roles with local organisations and with the causes they care about. Recruiters will gain access to the local volunteer database and will be able to post opportunities to the website. Volunteer First will also share the latest news about local volunteering in our News section, along with upcoming opportunities for organisations to access training and resources.
Volunteer First is just one way that Community First supports volunteering in communities across Hampshire. Our Volunteer Service Team is on hand to guide people in finding the right opportunity for them, and to advise local organisations on volunteer management and recruitment. Resources for organisations working with volunteers during COVID-19 are also available on the Community First website. Additionally, the Business Volunteering team connects businesses with local charities and non-profit organisations who need extra hands on a project or skills that companies can provide. One of the upcoming new features of Volunteer First will enable businesses to match with charities and non-profits who need their skills.
Janet Duggan, the Business & Volunteering Engagement Manager at Community First says “We are really pleased to be launching Volunteer First this week. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been overwhelmed by the numbers of people wanting to volunteer, with our new platform matching individuals with local organisations that need help. Volunteer First has been designed to make it easier for people to sign up, get involved and make a difference in their community. There has been such an outpouring of support for people who needed help during lockdown and we hope that the lasting legacy of COVID-19 will mean more people participating in their communities.”
Community First is a charity working in areas across Hampshire and membership is free for voluntary sector organisations in Havant, East Hampshire, Winchester, Fareham, and the New Forest. As well as volunteering, we provide community development support and training for the voluntary sector, essential community transport services, youth work, and a range of wellbeing services.